Tammy Abraham has provided Gareth Southgate with a boost as he continues his preparations for next summer’s World Cup finals by declaring that he wants to play his senior international football for England.

The Chelsea striker, who is enjoying a successful season on loan at Swansea City, is being courted by Nigeria, whom he is eligible to represent through his father, who was born in Warri, and is a childhood friend of the Nigerian Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick.

Abraham held talks with Pinnick about a potential change of allegiance in September, but is understood to have told senior FA officials in the past few weeks that he remains committed to England.

The 20-year-old has won 13 caps for England Under-21 and is targeting a