Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Ryan Mason has admitted that he was surprised to receive a call-up to the England squad earlier this week.
England boss Roy Hodgson turned to the 23-year-old to replace the injured Adam Lallana, and Mason was keen to pay tribute to Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff ahead of the games against Lithuania and Italy.
"It all came as a bit of a surprise," Mason told the Tottenham website. "I was sitting in the gaffer's office talking about the weekend and the next thing I knew the news had come in. Crazy!
"There was a real sense of pride and honour, it's hard to describe really.
"I was with the gaffer and all the coaching staff and they all congratulated me. It was great to get the news in front of them because without them I wouldn't be in this position. It's a big achievement to be in there, really exciting."
Mason only made his Premier League debut in September, but has started 22 league games for Pochettino's side since.
Callum Mulvihill
