Taylor Harwood-Bellis will turn to future father-in-law Roy Keane for advice on making his England senior debut – as he insists ‘everything is focused on Greece’

Taylor Harwood-Bellis will turn to one of football’s most famous and feared voices for advice on making his senior England debut – future father-in-law Roy Keane.

The Southampton defender is engaged to Keane’s daughter Leah and revealed he often leans on the Manchester United legend for support.

“It’s good and I’m getting a lot of advice,” said Harwood-Bellis, who was called into Lee Carsley’s squad for the Nations League games against Greece and Ireland.

Manchester City fan Harwood-Bellis said nothing has yet been said in the respective households about the clash against Keane’s homeland.

“No, everything is focused on Greece at the moment,” Harwood-Bellis added. ‘It’s a big game with the result at home (a 2-1 defeat at Wembley). We want to go over there and get a result.

Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis is preparing to make his debut for the England first team

Harwood-Bellis is engaged to the daughter of Man United legend Roy Keane, Leah

‘My family want to be there (at Wembley against Ireland) to see if I’m in or just to be involved, which is massive for me and my family.’

England realistically need to win both games to keep their hopes of promotion to League A alive in the Nations League.

Harwood-Bellis was with his fiance when he got the call from Carsley to tell him he had been selected. “I couldn’t quite believe it at first,” he added. ‘It was a feeling of pride. I was with my partner. Then I called my dad and he was very proud, the fact that I had played for England through the age groups and now I was in the seniors. My whole family was happy.

‘One of the first to message was Aaron Ramsdale, he messaged straight away. He is one of my mates at Southampton.’

Football runs in the Harwood-Bellis family, not just with the in-laws. His sister Rebecca was once a Great Britain youth basketball national. His uncle Steve is the president of their local team Stockport County, while his father used to spend match days as the Vernon Bear club mascot – a cuter dad than his future father-in-law.

If elected, he would follow in the footsteps of England internationals Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo, who also hail from the same part of Greater Manchester. “Just something in the air in Stockport I guess,” he said. ‘It’s a good city, good people, good club.’

Harwood-Bellis joined the Saints from City in the summer after captaining Carsley’s under-21s to European Championship glory.

Harwood-Bellis joined the Saints from Man City in the summer after captaining Lee Carsley’s Under-21s to European Championship glory

The interim England boss has praised the 22-year-old for his leadership, with the youngster learning from John Stones and Kyle Walker at City, while also playing under Vincent Kompany at Burnley.

“John and Kyle were big influences, big characters and both leaders, so they’re always there to help on and off the field and are great guys to be around,” he said.

‘Vincent was a big part. I had the best part of a year and a half under him, so he’s helped me tremendously. Help me personally grow as a player and a person.

‘I like to be seen as a leader. I like to help people who might want to come to me as their manager.’