'I want to make a big impression at the FIFA U17s World Cup'

Thursday 15 Oct 2015
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is desperate to impress at the FIFA U17s World Cup
Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is desperate to make a huge impact and fire his country to glory at the FIFA Under-17s World Cup.

The Aston Villa forward is in Chile preparing for England’s tournament opener against Guinea on Saturday.

The squad have been together for 11 days after preparing for the showpiece with an 8-0 win over DR Congo at St. George’s Park before travelling to the host nation’s capital Santiago and recording a 0-0 draw with La Roja on Sunday.

England v Guinea

FIFA Under-17s World Cup 2015
Group B
8pm, Saturday 17 October
Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso, Coquimbo
Live on Eurosport 2

 

Neil Dewsnip’s Young Lions arrived at their World Cup base in the west coast town of La Serena on Monday where preparations have continued, and with the kick-off now looming, Hepburn-Murphy is eager to impress on the global stage.

“100 per cent I’d like to make an impression and impact at this tournament. As a group we want to do as well as we can and try to win it,” the 17-year-old told TheFA.com.

“It’s a great experience playing at a World Cup in Chile, the crowds are going to be amazing and the teams that we will face will be just as good as we are.

“It is always good to play against opposition like that and test yourself. Week in and week out you do not always get that challenge, but this tournament has the best players from around the world and each countries squad will have the best of the best.”

The Aston-born youngster came off the bench at half time of Sunday’s clash with Chile to sample his first taste of the atmosphere in store in South America – and he is determined to experience it again.

“Chile were a good team and pressed us very well. The intensity of their play was very high. I came on at half time and had to get into the flow of the game as soon as possible,” he said.

“I definitely want to be involved from the start. We have a couple of training sessions left now before Saturday and I’ve just got to do what I do best and score goals to try and be in the team.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy in action against DR Congo

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy in action against DR Congo

“When I get the chance I have to make sure I put it in the back of the net and work as hard as I can to make the manager think that I should be starting.”

It is not only his England head coach Dewsnip that Hepburn-Murphy is out to impress in Chile.

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood handed the youngster his Premier League debut last season when he appeared as sub in a victory at Sunderland in March.

And the forward admits that working with a manager known for handing youngsters opportunities is an added incentive to shine over the next few weeks.

“Tim Sherwood is not shy of putting us younger players into the first-team, no matter how old you are. Even the U21s, if you are performing well at your level they will happy push you up,” he added.

“It was unbelievable when I made my debut last season and I’d love to feature in more games but it’s all about doing the best you can in both matches and training and getting your name noticed.

“We sometimes get to train with the seniors and the manager is always watching. You just have to do as well as you can at all times.”

England face Guinea at 8pm on Saturday in their opening match of the World Cup, which will be shown live on Eurosport 2.

Follow @England on Twitter for all the latest from the Young Lions camp in Chile

By Gary Stonehouse Staff Writer in La Serena, Chile