West Ham winger Michail Antonio says he thought it was banter from the club s physio when he was told he had been called up to play for England.
Antonio is the only potential debutant in Sam Allardyce s first squad for their World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Sunday.
The 26-year-old said he felt very emotional when he heard about his inclusion, although he did not believe it at first.
Very emotional, especially when I found out, Antonio told FATV. It s always been a boyhood dream to play for England.
To get the opportunity now by being called up, it s just breathtaking.
I did an interview at the end of the game and I ve come in [to the dressing room] and the physio has come over to me and said You ve been called up .
I was like,…
The World Cup in Qatar is now just two months away and the first international break of the season is the final opportunity for squads to convene before coming together for the tournament.
In Europe, the Nations League offers competitive action in the build-up to Qatar, while teams elsewhere will face friendlies.
With a mid-season window and just one break before the action commences in November, it presents a challenge for any new faces to establish themselves in their international side before the squad for the World Cup is selected.
Some have been handed glorious opportunities though and Stats Perform has assessed some of the newcomers.
Ivan Toney
England s main striker role is nailed down by skipper Harry Kane but the role of understudy is …
With Premier League teams from across the country really breaking the bank this summer, England s top-flight has seen a string of superstar new arrivals come through the doors.
As the likes of West Ham also decided to invest heavily, the Premier League s combined total spent this summer came to a staggering €1.355million.
However, while some new arrivals might be taking some time adjusting to life among Europe s elite, a few stars have certainly come flying out of the traps.
With the Premier League marking its return from the international break this weekend, we have taken a look at a handful of summer arrivals who have made an immediate impact at their new clubs.
Erling Haaland Manchester City
Finding the net away at Wolves prior to the international…
Ronald Koeman believes it is absurd that a report over Lionel Messi s contract is still dominating headlines but has been delighted with the way his captain has responded.
The build-up to Barcelona s Copa del Rey quarter-final at Granada has been overshadowed by an apparent leak of Messi s deal at Camp Nou, which was signed in 2017.
A report by El Mundo on Sunday claimed the contract, which expires at the end of this season, is worth more than €555million.
It was already believed that Messi was on an extraordinary salary at Barcelona, given he is recognised by many as the greatest active player of the world s most popular sport.
But the leaking of the exact sums payable to Messi has caused a stir, coming at a time when the embattled LaLiga giants are in…
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Ben Brereton Diaz from Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Tottenham have been scouting the Chile international striker this season, and that the North London club could make a move for him when the transfer window opens in January.
Brereton Diaz is out of contract at Blackburn at the end of the season. The striker has reportedly told Rovers that he is not going to put pen to paper on a new deal, so the Championship club are now facing the prospect of losing the 23-year-old on a free next summer. Rovers could now be willing to sell Brereton Diaz for £10 million in the January transfer window.
The striker has scored nine goals and provided one assist in 20 Championship ap…
We re happy that we have him, not only as a player but as a person he suits Schalke. I hope we will have the chance to keep him longer.
Those are the words of Schalke sporting director Jochen Schneider who is interested in keeping Everton loanee Jonjoe Kenny on the books beyond just this season. Kenny has made a strong impression ever since making his way over to Germany, and it seems like Schalke aren’t going to give up without a fight.
The local lad has been a professional with the Toffees since back in 2014, but hasn’t quite been able to lock down a secure place in the starting XI since then. At the age of 22 it feels like the next move in his career could be a really big one, and given the success he’s having over there, it wouldn’t be all too surprising t…
Yann Sommer has committed himself to Borussia Monchengladbach until 2023, the Bundesliga leaders have announced.
The 30-year-old joined Gladbach from Swiss side Basel in 2014 and has been a regular over the past six seasons.
Sommer s contract at Borussia-Park was due to run out in 2021, but he has agreed fresh terms to stay on for a further two years.
Gladbach confirmed the news on their official website and Sommer said: I would like to thank Borussia for the trust they are showing in me by extending my contract.
I am very happy to be part of this team and to continue my journey with Borussia. This is a great club, one that I enjoy working for daily.
: I d like to thank Borussia for the trust they are showing in me by extending my contract. I b…
Paris Saint-Germain have raced away at the top of Ligue 1, but a trip to champions Monaco could bring the superstars back down to earth.
Kylian Mbappe will return to his former club, making up a fearsome front three with Neymar and Edinson Cavani that has torn through almost all in their path this term.
Unai Emery s men are six points clear of the holders heading into Sunday s fixture at the Stade Louis II.
Victory for PSG could begin talk of the title race being run already, so we got the inside track from Opta to examine one of France s biggest fixtures.
Top scorers
Former DR Congo international Shabani Nonda enjoyed five fruitful years as a Monaco striker, during which time he won a Coupe de la Ligue medal and was part of the side th…
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery does not feel the arrival of Denis Suarez will have an impact on Mesut Ozil.
Despite being one of Arsenal s captains, Ozil has only started 13 Premier League matches this term and does not appear to be in Emery s preferred line-up.
Suarez joined on loan from Barcelona on Thursday, the midfielder returning to the Premier League after spending two years at Manchester City from 2011.
With Arsenal travelling to City in the Premier League on Sunday, the 25-year-old could make his Gunners debut against the reigning champions.
Emery denied signing Suarez, who played for him at Sevilla in the 2014-15 season, means there will be even fewer opportunities for Ozil.
It s no change for him, Emery said of Ozil. [Suarez] is coming…
Carlo Ancelotti s new assistant Willy Sagnol says he has returned to find Bayern Munich a much bigger club since his retirement in 2009.
Bayern left the Olympic Stadium for the Allianz Arena in 2005-06, affording the defender several seasons at the new venue in the twilight of his career.
But since he hung up his boots, the Bavarian outfit have cemented their status as German football s dominant force, winning five successive Bundesliga titles from 2012-13 onwards, as well as their fifth European Cup/Champions League crown.
FC Bayern became much bigger as a club. The last time I was here in this room was for my farewell as a player, he told a news conference.
Yes, Bayern became bigger, much bigger, but it s the culture that has remained the same. That …