According to talkSPORT, Rio Ngumoha, Liverpool FC's rising star, gave an exclusive interview to the outlet, revealing that new manager Arne Slot has enabled him to operate across both the left and right flanks. He's also targeting a starting position in England's current squad and has his sights set on Euro 2028, which will be held in England.

Ngumoha described his excitement upon learning of his selection: "My mum was with my younger brother – so I called them, and they were screaming down the phone. It was such an amazing moment."

The Liverpool FC winger continued: "I came here to show everyone what I can do, to show everyone who I am. I didn't come here to be a substitute. I want to be a key player for the team, and I hope I can stay here long-term. But there's fierce competition everywhere. Now it's time to compete against the best players in world football."

While his short-term goal is to displace some of Slot's established players from the starting XI, Ngumoha's long-term ambitions are equally bold. The opportunity to play in a home-hosted Euro 2028 is special motivation for every England player, especially Ngumoha, who will be nearly 20 years old by then. When asked about the possibility of featuring at Euro on home soil, he responded: "Definitely. I want to be part of the squad. I think as long as I keep doing what I'm doing—whether it's playing for England or at club level—as long as I keep showing who I am, how I play, and continue to contribute with goals and assists, and help the team win trophies, I really hope to be part of the team and hope we can go all the way."

Ngumoha's England call-up came amid his consistent performances with Liverpool FC under new manager Arne Slot. The talented winger flourished after receiving opportunities from former manager Slot, making 29 appearances across all competitions last season and scoring 2 Premier League goals. Since Slot's arrival, he has remained a key player, featuring in 5 matches across all competitions this season, including 3 starts.

Ngumoha revealed that the Spanish coach has deployed him on the right wing while also allowing him to play his preferred left-wing position, an arrangement that has added another weapon to his arsenal. Speaking about his time under Slot, he told talkSPORT: "It feels great. Liverpool's manager has helped me so much – the whole coaching staff too – I can't praise them enough. I'm really enjoying it. I play left wing, and I play right wing as well. So it's another weapon that helps me penetrate the defense."

Tuchel, who handed Ngumoha his senior England debut this past summer at just 17 years old, has spoken glowingly of the player. After calling up the prospect for England's September international fixture, Tuchel shared his initial impression of Ngumoha: "At his age, Leo is incredibly impressive. He has explosive pace, courage, physical strength, and in one-on-one situations, he plays like a true winger." Tuchel added: "We're very excited about his potential and his natural bravery and risk-taking style of play."

Ngumoha also praised England manager Tuchel, saying: "I don't even know what to say about Coach Tuchel. He's helped me so much. I think the fact that he picked me shows the trust he has in me, and how he sees me as exciting and 'explosive.' What I can do now is prove to him again why I should be here, get more involved in training, and show him why he should believe I should be a key part of the team and help us win."

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