Adam Wharton’s rapid rise from club mascot to Euro 2024 shows no sign of stopping
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Adam Wharton's ascent to the Premier League this year has been impressive, and he has earned a spot on England's Euro 2024 team.
Although Wharton only played for England for the first time in their pre-tournament match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he will be included in the team travelling to Germany.
Wharton entered the pitch in place of Kieran Trippier during the 62nd minute. He easily adapted to the high-stakes game with his impressive passing skills, which also proved his value to Gareth Southgate during training.
Wharton has been a regular starter for Crystal Palace since he joined for a fee of £22.5m from Blackburn, who plays in the Championship, in January. However, it was not until their victory against Liverpool, who were in pursuit of the championship title, that Wharton's name gained widespread attention.
He became well known after Palace beat Manchester United 4-0, where his talent shone through when he faced Kobbie Mainoo. What was even more impressive was when both Wharton and Mainoo were selected for Southgate's England squad, which resulted in Jack Grealish and James Maddison not being chosen.
Wharton was born in Blackburn and became a club mascot in 2008. Later on, he joined the club's academy, just like his older brother Scott who is six years older.
Wharton didn't sign his first professional contract with his childhood club until February of 2022. He finally got his debut against Hartlepool in August of the same year. Surprisingly, by the end of that month, he played his first 90 minutes, was named player of the match and even scored his first club goal in October.
After spending two years as a professional player at Blackburn, he decided to join Crystal Palace, which is a Premier League team. In just two days, he got the opportunity to make his debut for the Eagles, and he played in all 15 of their remaining Premier League games as a starter.
During the initial stages of March in 2024, Wharton was invited to play for the England under-21s in their qualifying match and had his first-ever game with them, which resulted in a 7-0 triumph over Luxembourg. In just 60 days after the said event, he received a call from Southgate to join the team.
The reason why he kicked off the momentum was his top-notch performance while playing for Crystal Palace, with some help from the Uefa's call to add three more players to the tournament squads, making it 26 in total.
Wharton is not only skilled in his own performances, but his talents have also contributed to the success of his teammates Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze. His great forward passing skills have played a significant role in their achievements. Southgate might have noticed this ability, and it could be a decisive factor in Wharton's selection for Euro 2024. If he is part of the team, he can support some exceptional players in the forward positions.
When I was younger, I was always on the shorter side. It wasn't ideal, but I think it actually worked to my advantage because I constantly had to compete against larger individuals. This helped me develop the necessary skills to overcome physical obstacles. By the time I encountered similar situations during games, I had already tackled them numerous times and knew how to succeed.
Before facing Manchester United, Palace managed to secure three consecutive wins with the leadership of Oliver Glasner. This impressive winning streak commenced at Anfield. It's worth mentioning that Wharton had previously played in the Championship, yet he handled everything effortlessly.
During the pre-tournament training camp, Wharton has managed to astonish his fellow members of the England squad. Declan Rice even remarked, "He has done exceptionally well. His left foot is exquisite with crisp passing skills. Moreover, he's a humble individual with a great desire to learn."
Rice stated: "I believe he will be prepared whenever he is needed. As you noticed in the previous night, he stayed calm and poised, demonstrating his readiness to perform on a large scale."
Wharton could play a crucial role in Southgate's risky decision of letting go of some players who have been instrumental in England's victories in the past three competitions. Nevertheless, Wharton embodies the hope and potential of the upcoming generation of English footballers.
