Harry Maguire has been backed to turn a breakthrough season into England recognition by Hull City head coach Marco Silva and team-mate Andrea Ranocchia.
Maguire has played every minute of the Tigers' last 12 Premier League games, establishing himself in Silva's backline among Michael Dawson, Curtis Davies and Ranocchia.
The 23-year-old's no-nonsense style of defending contrasts with a tendency to roam through midfield for Hull, catching the eye with fine performances in recent wins over Manchester United and Liverpool.
"What I have seen in Harry in the last two months, I hope that he plays as soon as possible in the national team," Silva told a news conference.
"I see him having good skills for that, fantastic character and he is an important player for us at the moment. Maybe they don't listen the last years, but I am sure he will have a great career.
"I'm not surprised by him. It's different when you work with the players, when I feel the skill of players, and for me Maguire is a fantastic example.
"When I think of one centre-back who can play at that level I look to Maguire and I see so many things to play at that level."
Maguire's most recent defensive partner knows what it takes to play at international level and 21-time Italy centre-back Ranocchia also talked up the former Sheffield United man's talents.
"Maguire's a young guy but he's a big guy," said Ranocchia. "He's someone that trains really hard and he has already got the right kind of attitude for someone so young, so I expect him to make progress not just at Hull but for his country as well.
"He's so young that if he keeps going on this path, he's got the physical qualities and the technical qualities to do that, yes."
