Boothroyd urges City star Cantwell to focus on his football after missing out on England U21 duty
David Freezer
Published: 10:43 PM October 6, 2020 Updated: 7:10 PM November 21, 2020
Todd Cantwell played in the first two Championship games of the season but has been left out of the last two by Daniel Farke Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Aidy Boothroyd has urged Norwich City star Todd Cantwell to focus on his football, after leaving the midfielder out of the latest England Under-21 squad.
Canaries players Max Aarons and Oliver Skipp, as well as the recently departed Ben Godfrey, are in Andorra ahead of a European Under-21 Championship qualifier on Wednesday afternoon (2pm).
Cantwell played in both of the Young Lions' games in September, winning his second and third caps, playing the opening hour of a 6-0 win in Kosovo and the final 10 minutes of a 2-1 win away to nearest qualification rivals Austria.
However, after being left out of City's last two matches for Daniel Farke due to looking distracted in training, amid transfer links to Premier League sides Leeds and Fulham, the 22-year-old is not involved in the latest squad.
Boothroyd said: "As far as Todd is concerned, I think the best way for any young player who has maybe had speculation attached to him or things going on in the background, is to focus on what you can focus on - which is your football.
"The better player you become, the more choice you'll have. So I'm sad and sorry to hear that there has been a bit of an issue but knowing Daniel (Farke), knowing Todd, knowing the club and all the boys that we have got at Norwich, it'll soon be behind us and they'll be moving at full steam ahead."
MORE: Emi in, Todd out but no transfer sub-plots for Farke
Boothroyd has kept Aarons involved despite now being a Championship player though and knows all about City's challenge in trying to bounce straight back to the top flight, from his time at Watford, coming close in 2007 but losing in the play-offs.
"I remember we had a brilliant start, to the 'bounce back season, but unfortunately fell away because of players that had to be moved on," said the former Canaries academy coach.
"I think the way that Norwich is run, a terrific club, I obviously have a lot of memories from my time there, it is difficult. You go through stages in the season where there is a bit of a lull, that's only natural.
"It's a long season, it'll feel like an even longer season this year I'm sure, for the guys that you've mentioned and Ollie Skipp."