Why won't Albania call up this Championship star?

Why won't Albania call up this Championship star?

Anis Mehmeti has been in outstanding form once again this year. After initially struggling under Nigel Pearson when he signed for Bristol City in January 2023, he found his footing last season and has cemented himself as a guaranteed starter for the Robins.

However, in spite of his remarkable talent on the ball, the 24-year-old winger finds himself unable to break into the Albanian national team setup.

Managing seven call-ups in the nation's youth system, he has only played for the senior side on three occasions, all of which were in 2023 in EURO 2024 qualification fixtures.

So what is it that is preventing him from representing his nation while he's playing so well?

Spoilt for choices in his position

Speaking at press conference early in October this year, head coach Sylvinho (that's right, the one who played for Arsenal, Barca and Man City) explained that Albania simply have too many quality left wingers.

He said: "We visited Mehmeti, but we have many players on the left wing. We took Mehmeti here, he played on the right. With his team he plays on the left wing, we have positioned him on the right wing.

"There are many players. I cannot send 27-28 players to Serbia, it is my choice."

Whether Mehmeti likes it or not, Sylvinho is completely right - the position is already hard-fought for by the likes of Ernest Muci, who is on loan at Trabzonspor, Austin FC's Myrto Uzuni and Nedim Bajrami at Rangers, all of whom provide fierce competition for a starting place.

Resultingly, the former Wycombe man will likely only be able to break through on the right flank, which is where he played in his handful of appearances in 2023.

Gerhard Struber, Bristol City's head coach, probably won't be quick to change his system and play Mehmeti on the right though, considering how successful he has been in his natural position. He already boasts five goals and three assists this season, last scoring against Will Still's struggling Southampton.

"That's how you respond!"

Anis Mehmeti goes straight back the other way for Bristol City! 👊 pic.twitter.com/jy9nHNeDMM

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 21, 2025

He has been integral to the Robins' success this season, where they currently sit fourth in the league, and was just as useful in helping them achieve their first Championship play-off appearance in 17 years, guided by now-Norwich manager Liam Manning.

So is there a future for Mehmeti and Albania?

Spotted by Pablo Zabaleta (yes, that one who, again, played for Man City) while he was playing for Wycombe, Mehmeti's outstanding ability to beat defenders and manipulate the ball quickly impressed Sylvinho.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "We started watching him in League One, but, right after it, he signed with Bristol City in the Championship, leading us to think, ‘OK, the potential we’re seeing here, others are seeing as well'."

His abilities have grown tenfold since then, and he's becoming a much more significant threat in front of goal, but it's going to take some serious consistency, or something pretty special, for the winger to establish himself in the national team again.

But with Bristol City's sustained success on the pitch, surely it's only a matter of time before the Premier League comes calling - whether that is gracing the turf of Ashton Gate or earning a move elsewhere. That kind of media attention would make him irresistible for Albanian fans, who would be demanding to see him in international fixtures.

Anis Mehmeti is pure Magic 🔥 https://t.co/9dSeWTlLms pic.twitter.com/tkJEnwiz2p

— Albanian Football Scout 🇦🇱 (@FootballAlbXI) September 18, 2025

After being left out of the squad for the Euros in 2024, the London-born player admitted his disappointment, but it appears to have only been a cause of motivation since.

He said, “I didn’t go to the Euros, and that really set me back mentally because I thought that I was going to go to the Euros, and then I haven’t been called up since. But I can’t control that. All I can do is try to score goals and play my football and let the rest take care of itself.

“It’s my dream and my family’s dream to represent my country but they obviously don’t see that at the minute. It just motivates me to work even harder and show them what they’re missing out on.

“I hope they’re seeing it.”

With Mehmeti's form showing no signs of slowing, as well as deservedly gaining a mass of minutes on the pitch, he will no doubt be giving the coaches back in Albania a serious selection headache. Surely it won't be long before we see him donning the red and black of his country again.