- Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Roy Keane’s future son-in-law, scored against Ireland
- Keane watched on as a pundit while England tore apart Ireland 5-0 at Wembley
- Southampton’s Harwood-Bellis talked about their relationship before the game
Roy Keane jokes that his future son-in-law’s goal for England against Ireland on Sunday could see the wedding with his daughter called off.
It was a dream debut for Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who netted a header in England’s 5-0 Nations League rout at Wembley while Irishman Keane watched on as a pundit.
The Southampton star, 22, is engaged to Keane’s daughter Leah – but did not hold back in his jubilant celebrations as England ran riot in Lee Carsley’s final game.
‘Bitter sweet for me, this,’ Keane told ITV Sport after the match.
Host Mark Pougatch pointed out that Harwood-Bellis is Keane’s future son-in-law, to which the Manchester United legend quipped: ‘It’s not done and dusted yet!’
He added: ‘Over the last few months he’s definitely been a goal threat playing for Southampton, it’s nice for him.
‘It’s great for him to make his debut, as I said he’s a bit of a goal threat. He’s a nice kid, his family has done a great job.’
Fortunately Harwood-Bellis and Keane have a good relationship, as the 22-year-old revealed ahead of the clash at Wembley.
‘It’s good and I take a lot of advice,’ he said of his bond with Keane.
Harwood-Bellis was with his fiancee Leah when he got the call from Lee Carsley to tell him he’d 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 phoned my dad and he was very proud, the fact I had played for England through the age groups and now I was in the seniors. All my family were delighted.
Football runs in the Harwood-Bellis family, and not just with the in-laws. His sister Rebecca was once a Great Britain youth basketball international.
His uncle Steve is president of their local team Stockport County while his dad used to spend matchdays as the Vernon Bear club mascot – a cuddlier dad, then, than his future father-in-law.
Harwood-Bellis was a surprise inclusion in Lee Carsley’s squad for the games against Greece and Ireland, which have seen the Three Lions promoted to Nations League A.
And when the centre-back was introduced in the 62nd minute of the game, few would have expected the former U21s international to bag a rare goal.
But that he did in the 5-0 rout, evading his marker in the box before leaping and heading the ball back across goal.
It was a hugely encouraging night for England in their final match under Carsley before Thomas Tuchel arrives in the New Year.
Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen, and Harwood-Bellis were all on the scoresheet.
All of them bar Kane from the penalty spot bagged their first goals for the national team.
