In Focus: How Abraham restored England career from Roman ruins

It seems that all Tammy Abraham had to do to return to the England fold was leave the country. 

The former Chelsea striker is thriving in Italy as part of ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho's Roma revolution.

As a result, he finds himself back in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions set-up for the latest pair of World Cup qualifiers. 

Here is why Abraham, 24, is in contention to add to his six international caps.

A fresh start

Abraham’s summer switch to the Italian capital ended a 17-year association with Chelsea, for whom he made 82 first-team appearances. 

After loan spells with Aston Villa, Bristol City and Swansea — the latter in the Premier League — the Blues academy graduate became a regular under Frank Lampard, scoring 18 goals in all competitions in 2019-20. 

He found the net a further 12 times the following season — including a hat-trick in Lampard’s final game in charge — before seeing his playing time limited under new boss Thomas Tuchel. 

That fall down the pecking order precipitated his £34million move to Serie A in July, making Abraham the most expensive English player ever signed by an overseas club.

Instant impact

Abraham bagged his first goal for Roma on his third appearance, a 4-0 Serie A win away at Salernitana. 

Since then he has netted a further three times, as well as providing three assists across his 10 appearances.

He ranks inside the top 10 in Serie A for expected goals so far this season (3.4) and only four players have attempted more shots from inside the box than his 16. 

Abraham has immediately won Mourinho's trust with the Portuguese handing him starts in all seven of Roma’s Serie A fixtures so far — including against Lazio in one of world football’s most iconic derbies.

More than a goalscorer

As should now be expected of the best modern centre-forwards, Abraham is not just in the side to find the back of the net. 

Mourinho praised his No9’s all-round ability following last Sunday’s 2-0 win over Empoli, saying: "There are strikers who if they don’t score it doesn’t matter, others instead if they don’t score then they make a contribution equal to zero. 

"Then there are those who do not score and are the best in the field and this is Tammy."

With 10 chances created, Abraham ranks third among all Serie A forwards while his trio of assists are more than any of his striking peers.

From No9 to No2?

With England captain Harry Kane unlikely to start against Andorra and Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Patrick Bamford out injured, Abraham could earn his first Three Lions start since his debut against Germany in November 2017. 

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has also made the 24-man squad but Abraham profiles more similarly to Kane in terms of style, so he could well get the nod from the get-go and gain his seventh cap.

Translate his club form to the national side and he might just push Calvert-Lewin and Bamford down the pecking order — especially with another international break coming up next month.

The Italian job

Not since the 1980s have we seen multiple Italian-based players in the Three Lions squad. 

Ray Wilkins and Mark Hateley both went to the 1986 World Cup while plying their trade at AC Milan — and Abraham is joined in Southgate’s latest selection by Milan defender Fikayo Tomori, with whom he rose through the Chelsea youth ranks. 

In recent years, Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho, before his move to Manchester United, have been regular inclusions as Borussia Dortmund players. 

Could Serie A become the next Bundesliga as far as England are concerned?