How a short back and sides turned into a trip to Moscow

Magnus Norman was half way through getting a short back and sides when the phone rang: “Your country needs you in Russia.”

After Sam Howes was forced to pull out of the England Under-18s squad on Friday after picking up a knock in training, Norman was about to embark on one of his strangest days in football.

With the clock ticking, he faced a race against time to get back from the barbers to his home in south-west London, pick up his things and hurry across to the Russian Embassy not far Hyde Park to collect his visa. But he came through a “crazy” day intact and he is now ready to depart for Moscow on Saturday for the Three Lions’ double-header.

“It was pretty hectic, when I woke up I never imagined in at all that I’d be going to Russia within 24 hours,” he told TheFA.com.

“I went out to the barbers, and as I was sitting getting my haircut I got the phone call to ask me whether I’d replace Sam Howes in the squad as he’d had to pull out.

“It was a ten past two and I had to be at the Russian Embassy for 3pm. I literally had no time to get there from New Malden where I live, so at that point I still wasn’t going.

“But not long after, I got confirmation that they were going to open up especially for me at 7pm, so the race was on. A member of FA staff came and collected me from home and we headed off via taxi then tube to the Embassy at Notting Hill. Luckily we managed to get it all sorted in time.

“I got to tell my dad before I left, but I only managed to get through to my mum to tell her when I was in the Embassy. She was quite shocked but they were over the moon for me.”

The big shot-stopper may be feeling on cloud nine about his late call-up for the Young Lions, but not everybody close to him was as overjoyed.
Norman was taking his girlfriend on holiday this Sunday, but he says missing out on that break is a small sacrifice to make when it comes to representing your country.

Norman made his England debut against Switzerland in March

“We were going on holiday to Zante, so obviously to find out two days before I couldn’t go she was gutted. But I’m buzzing to be called up and it’s going to be a great experience.

“I have to put football over everything really. It’s a holiday, you can have one every year, but getting called up for England is something special and you never know when it might happen again.

“If you are called up, you can’t not go. It’s such an honour.”

Although he is missing out on the sunny climate of the Greek islands, Norman is relishing the prospect of seeing first-hand a completely different culture. But he is not going just to be a tourist.

“I’ve never been to Russia before and I don’t know what to expect really – but what a fantastic thing to go and experience,” he added.

“We are playing in a great stadium, which is always better than just playing on a normal pitch. It’ll be different weather, a different culture and I can’t wait for it.

“It’s also a great opportunity to show what I’m about and put myself in the shop window when it comes to selection for the U19s squad next season. If I’m given the chance then I want to impress.”

England face Russia on Monday at 4pm in Arena Khimki, the home of Dynamo Moscow before playing the second match of their double-header against the same opposition 48 hours later.