Moses Odubajo admits he was shocked and surprised at his England call-up – but now intends to show he deserves to be there.
The Brentford star was last week included in the England U20s squad for the games against Mexico at Barnet on Wednesday, and the USA at Plymouth next Sunday.
It is a first slice of international recognition for Odubajo, despite being invited to a Nigeria U23 training camp last year, which he says he did not attend.
He said: “I found out before the Blackburn game last week when the gaffer (Mark Warburton) called me, and then Aidy Boothroyd (U20s manager) called me as well to confirm it.
“It was a real shock as I wasn't expecting it, but it's a real honour to represent you country. I'm always delighted to get any kind of recognition. It shows you're doing something right.
“I qualify for both England and Nigeria, and to be honest I would have gone with whichever game me the first opportunity, and I didn't get along to the Nigerian training camp.
“I was really surprised, but now I want to prove I'm good enough to be there. There's no point turning up being nervous though, I have to show I'm comfortable in those surroundings.”
Odubajo will at least have Chris Long, who is on loan at Brentford from Everton, to keep him company in the U20s squad, while another Bees loanee, Alex Pritchard, is in the U21s squad to play the Czech Republic and Germany.
The summer signing from Leyton Orient started the season as a winger, but has been employed at right-back since Alan McCormack's injury last October, and has so impressed there that he is keeping a fit-again McCormack out of the side.
He said: “I think Aidy is looking at me playing a more defensive role, like I am at Brentford at the moment. There are lots of turning points in football, and being moved to right-back could be mine.”
Greenwich-born Odubajo celebrated his call-up with the last-gasp equaliser in Saturday's draw with Millwall, his first goal in six months, and despite it coming against a side who rejected him as a teenager, he did not rub it in.
He added: “It doesn't make it any sweeter really. The youth team coach at Millwall didn't fancy me, but that's just football. I still know Aiden O'Brien (scorer of Millwall's second goal) from those days, so we had a bit of banter in the run up to the game.
“Jota tried to cross the ball but it ricocheted to me, and my first instinct was to shoot, but I realised I had more time so I took a touch, composed myself and just hit it. Words can't describe how it felt.
“The way I see it, if you're not winning a game, a draw is the next best thing, and while today may be seen as points dropped, it could be a very important point come the end of the season.”
