West Brom star's deserved shot at summer redemption

That is despite a very impressive debut campaign at The Hawthorns for the versatile Styles, who made left-back his own from last October.

Styles, who hails from Oldham but qualifies for the Magyars through his grandmother, missed out on three international squads early on last season while he was still finding his feet as a Baggie.

As such, his last action for Hungary was in last summer's European Championship.

Now, with most of the football world either preparing for or on their holidays, Styles has the chance to make up for lost time after a summer call to arms.

Hungary are a fiercely proud footballing nation with a heritage of producing the best players around back in the 1950s. They are a far-cry from returning to those heady heights, but the Magyars are on the rise again, with some top Premier League talent among their ranks.

By the spring, as Styles turned 25 in late March, the diminutive former Barnsley man had become a regular fixture under first Carlos Corberan and then Tony Mowbray. He endeared himself to the Baggies faithful with all-action performances, a penchant to play on the front foot and a desire to defend even though he was no seasoned defender.

A deserved Hungary call followed. Styles spoke to the Express & Star on the eve of the March international break, with Albion still well in play-off contention, about his excitement, pride, prospects and competing with, as well as learning from, Bournemouth star left-back Milos Kerkez with his country.

But cruel misfortune struck again as Albion's left-back felt discomfort in his calf in the wake of a battling midweek draw at Burnley - in which he gave eye-catching examples of his defensive development - and scans confirmed the damage.

He had to sit out of the damaging home draw against Hull, which led into the break, and also coincided with the start of the Baggies' collapse in form under Mowbray.

Styles missed out the Nations League relegation play-off clashes against Turkey, with two defeats for his nation. It would have hurt watching from these shores for the man who, back in 2022, won his third and sixth caps in victories over England, including the 4-0 thrashing of the Three Lions at Molineux.

But that pain will turn into motivation for the popular full-back, who has been called into Marco Rossi's squad for upcoming friendlies at home to Sweden, at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on June 6, and away to Azerbaijan on June 10.

Interestingly, Styles was included in the 'midfield' section of the official Hungary squad selection call. That is not a total surprise, as his minutes previously have come in  a variety of midfield roles with Kerkez the standout candidate at left-back.

There is little riding on the early June friendlies, but for Styles it is a key opportunity to push himself back into the conscience of the nation of his proud family heritage. It is one he will be determined to grasp.

Fellow Baggie, midfielder Isaac Price, has also been called for summer international duty. Price, 21, will set off home from his summer break in Greece for friendlies away at Denmark and at home to Iceland on June 7 and 10.