England legend Jamie Carragher’s son receives first ever international call-up – but it’s NOT for the Three Lions

Jamies Carragher’s son James has been rewarded with a first international call-up following his breakthrough season at Wigan.

James has been a regular in the Latics’ defence this season with 22 appearances in League One so far. 

The 22-year-old’s father Jamie earned 38 England caps during his career and was part of the squad for two World Cup tournaments. 

However, James will represent a different nation having been awarded a Maltese citizenship last month. 

He qualifies to play for Malta through his paternal grandfather, with Liverpool legend Jamie also having been awarded a Maltese citizenship. 

Malta Football Association president Bjorn Vassallo last month revealed that he held talks with the Carragher family.  

The Wigan defender qualifies to play for Malta through his paternal grandfather (centre) 

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher earned 38 caps for England between 1999 and 2010

‘We’ve been in talks with James and his father Jamie for the last few months now; he is open to it, but we’re still working on it,’ Vassallo said. 

Carragher, who has been deployed at right back and centre back this season, will be part of the Malta squad that faces Finland and Poland in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. 

The Wigan defender looks to have overcome a series of injuries that threatened to jeopardize his career. 

He spent the 2022-23 season on loan at Oldham, but was limited to just six appearances as he suffered a knee injury. 

Carragher then returned to competitive action in the second-half of the 2023-24 campaign where he spent time on loan at Scottish side Inverness.