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Oliver Glasner Says Jair Cunha Deserves Brazil Call-up
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- Oliver Glasner Says Jair Cunha Deserves Brazil Call-up
(REUTERS)
Seeing Jair Cunha play for Nottingham Forest's B Team against Reading in January, in front of barely 100 fans, it was clear that he stood out.
After all, he was not like any other youth player hoping to get his first chance in professional football, as he had already amassed a wealth of senior experience in Brazil, for Botafogo and Santos, including on the world stage, at the FIFA Club World Cup.
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But, like every other player on the pitch, he was playing for the chance to earn a big break in English football.
Having arrived for just north of £10 million the summer before, Jair had played just 275 competitive minutes across three appearances before this game.
Following a season-ending injury to his compatriot, Murillo , Jair went on to make a further 12 appearances for the Forest first team at the back end of last season, producing some key performances in crucial moments.
That fine form has continued into the new season, and the 21-year-old has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Oliver Glasner's arrival as head coach.
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With the Austrian implementing his famed 3-4-2-1 system, there was an extra spot in the backline available and, with Ousmane Diomande not signing until relatively late in pre-season, Jair assumed the role.
While Diomande has been getting up to full match fitness, after his disrupted pre-season, Jair has continued to start, and now appears undroppable in his current form.
Now, just months after unexpectedly becoming a regular feature for Forest, Jair's rapid rise has taken its next leap, after he was handed his first senior Brazil call-up.
He will be part of Carlo Ancelotti's squad for their upcoming double-header against Australia, as well as a game against India.
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"Deserved" call-ups can be motivation for others, says Glasner
Speaking after news of Jair's call-up, Forest head coach Glasner sung the praises of the young defender, and insisted his success should serve as motivation for other players.
"I think it's a huge achievement for him, Glasner lauded, "being 21 years of age and being announced for the Brazilian national team .
"You can see how quickly things can happen, especially in football. He was not a regular starter last year.
"We've been together for now for a bit more than two months, and in every single training session, and every single game from day one, he was listening, he was working really hard in every training session and asking what he can improve.
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"We've always guided and supported him, and everything else he did. He had amazing performances against Tottenham and at Liverpool , and that's why he deserves to be called up by Brazil.
"It should be a motivation for all other players to work very hard. For me it's not so surprising. Perhaps how quickly, after two months, but many players in our team have the potential to play for their country, but it's not just to have the potential, it's to show it every week."
