West Ham United winger Michail Antonio has admitted that he was "overwhelmed" when he found out that he would be part of Sam Allardyce's first England squad.
The 26-year-old has scored two goals in three Premier League games so far this season, with that form earning him a place in the 23-man party to face Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier next Sunday.
Antonio's ascent into the England squad comes less than a year after he made the step up to the Premier League, and the former Nottingham Forest man described it as a dream come true.
"I'm overwhelmed. I got slightly emotional when I found out. It's just one of those things that I've always dreamt of playing for England as a kid, so now for it to happen after I've worked my way from non-league to where I am now, I am just so happy. I don't even know what to say – words can't explain how happy I am. I just give my all every time I go on the field, so for me to called up by England, I don't know what to say," he told West Ham TV.
"All I can do is go out there on the international stage and show there is a reason why the gaffer has called me up. I didn't think that it would happen this quick, but I always said to myself that if I could get into the Premier League and keep playing the way I do, hopefully I could get into the England squad. I turned down an approach from Jamaica in March and for this to happen so quickly, I'm buzzing.
"I just want to keep my feet on the floor. In my first season in the Premier League, even though I had good stats, the England manager would have had to take a risk on me. It looks like the gaffer now believes that I've done enough to be in there, so hopefully I can prove him right. It's an amazing feeling and I just want to tell my missus and go home and hug my children and enjoy it with my children. I don't even know what happens here. I have been called up, so I'll have to ask the boys what I have to do, because I don't know."
Antonio was chosen in Allardyce's squad ahead of the likes of Ross Barkley, Jack Wilshere and Jermain Defoe.
Barney Corkhill
