To be honest, I didn’t think I’d get to this point as an England international at one stage a few years ago.
I’d played for England in the Victory Shield for the U16s and at every level through to the U21s.
But I only made my debut two years ago and before that, I used to think my chance had gone to play for England as it had been almost four years.
The squads used to always be the same and the left-backs always used to be the same, regardless of how people were playing and I found that very frustrating.
So I’d given up on playing for England until at last, I got my chance and went to the Euros which was one of the best experiences of my life.
I’ve been in and around the squad ever since. I was in Sam Allardyce’s first squad and the current gaffer’s first squad.
I then had a nine-month injury lay off last season and had only played one game before he picked me again, so I’m grateful for that and I very much feel a part of it.
I just want to make the most of my time with the squad now. I’m potentially three months away from being able to represent my country at a World Cup.
It sounds clichéd, but going to a World Cup is childhood dream stuff and would be the pinnacle of your career really.
I think there was one billion viewers of the last World Cup final, so there will be people all over the world watching and the whole country is supporting you.
My first World Cup memory was 1998 and watching that, never did I ever think that I might have a chance of actually playing in a World Cup myself. It just never dawns on you as an eight-year-old.
It’s scary really and if it happens, I’ll be over the moon.
We’re obviously preparing and really focusing on the summer now. The gaffer isn’t necessarily trying to ease the pressure, but he’s reminded us that it’s been four major tournaments since we’ve won a knock-out game so people need to remember that.
We’re not all of a sudden thinking that we’re going to win it, or get to the semi-finals.
Yes, of course, we want to do all of that, but you can’t just do that after not winning a knock-out game for four consecutive tournaments.
It’s a slow progress, but we feel we’re well on our way and can go to Russia with confidence.
