I played for England alongside Eze, James and Ramsdale – now I play in Azerbaijan and captain a different country

STRAPPING centre-back Easah Suliman was a regular successful the England property groups during a distinguished younker career

The Brummie-born defender was besides a prima wrong Aston Villa's academy, archetypal appearing successful a archetypal squad matchday squad aged conscionable 17.

His 1 and lone elder quality for the Villans past came nether Steve Bruce successful August 2017, erstwhile helium replaced Scott Hogan for the last 9 minutes of a League Cup necktie against Wigan.

While attempting to marque his mode astatine nine level, Suliman was marking himself retired arsenic a person successful the making connected the planetary stage, wearing the captain's armband for England from Under-16 to Under-20 level.

He played alongside respective stars of the aboriginal wrong the Three Lions set-up, including the likes of Eberechi Eze, Reece James, Aaron Ramsdale and Trent Alexander-Arnold, to sanction conscionable a few.

Now 26, the 6ft 2in centre-back's vocation has gone successful directions helium whitethorn ne'er person imagined.

Following indebtedness spells astatine Cheltenham, Grimsby and FC Emmen, Suliman near Villa Park permanently successful January 2020.

At the clip helium wrote connected his Instagram account: "Thank you to everyone astatine Aston Villa for supporting maine and helping maine make arsenic a subordinate and a idiosyncratic since one started astatine 8 years old.

"It has been a large 13 years and I privation the nine each the champion successful the future."

Like galore talented young English footballer, Suliman opted to instrumentality his chances overseas - moving to Portuguese broadside Vitoria.

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Suliman was joined successful Portugal by 2 chap England younker starlets, ex-Chelsea midfielder Jacob Maddox, present of Forest Green, and erstwhile Tottenham stand-out Marcus Edwards, who present excels for Sporting Lisbon.

As helium continued to set to men's football, Suliman headed connected further loans to 2nd tier sides Nacional and Vilafranquense.

During his younker vocation astatine Villa, Suliman spoke of however helium was inspired by England cricketer Moeen Ali, who similar him is simply a arrogant Brummie of Pakistani descent.

Having worn the Three Lions astatine younker level, Suliman would power his planetary allegiances to Pakistan past year.

Suliman present appears to person recovered immoderate stableness successful men's football, having signed for Azerbaijan broadside Sumgayit past summer, for whom helium was a regular past season.

He has truthful acold earned 9 caps for Pakistan, and has already worn the captain's armband connected 5 occasions.

TAKING INSPIRATION

Now representing the South Asian nation, Suliman continues to beryllium inspired by Ali.

"I person met him galore times and we are rather close," Suliman said of the cricket icon successful a speech with The Hindu past year. "Anyone who plays athletics successful our metropolis looks up to him.

"He was portion of the IPL-winning squad precocious and is backmost successful the Ashes team.

"It shows that irrespective of your origin, you tin execute astatine the highest level."

FURTHER CHALLENGES AHEAD

Suliman had plentifulness to look backmost connected with pridefulness past season, and helium wrote connected Instagram backmost successful May: "End of a memorable season.

"Perfect mode to decorativeness with securing continent positions with @sumqayitfc_official 🟣⚪️ acknowledgment to the fans for each the enactment passim the season.

"And not forgetting what we achieved with the nationalist squad earlier successful the play by making history @pakistanffofficial".

Unfortunately, Suliman's antithetic vocation way volition present look a large obstacle.

According to Pakistan Football Mania, the erstwhile Villa youngster is nursing a torn ACL suffered successful pre-season, and volition look 8-9 months connected the sidelines.

With the quality and resoluteness helium has already shown successful his career, however, helium is bound to instrumentality adjacent play stronger for the setback.