Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has said it is an extra special feeling to be called up to the England senior squad for the first time.
Nketiah is the top goalscorer and former captain of the England Under-21s.
The 24-year-old has had to wait for long to get his first senior call-up, having once chosen to play for Ghana as well.
Nketiah delighted to be in the Three Lions club
“I’m really happy to be here, proud to be here and looking forward to helping the team,” he said.
Speaking after the call-up, Nketiah added: “Obviously I’ve been here a few times but it does feel different – it’s extra special.
“You’re mixing with great players, obviously a great manager as well. So just that sense of pride to be here, to progress through the age groups is obviously a nice feeling and to get here is a nice step.”
Nketiah has started the season on a good note, starting three of Arsenal’s four Premier League games and scoring two goals.
“I am playing for a great club and a big club at Arsenal,” he said.
“These tough games will be a different and new experience but it is about doing as well as I can, showing my quality this week, and hopefully getting an opportunity to go out there and help the team.
“I am a much better player now than I was two or three years ago. It is really nice and I am coming in at a good time and a good moment.
“I feel confident and I feel ready to continue to improve – that is the thing, I am still young and humble enough to know I am not the finished article.
“Coming away with these players and being able to show my quality and learn from them is really good for me.”
Nketiah is eligible to represent Ghana, the birthplace of his parents, and they were interested in handing him a senior cap.
However, the Arsenal forward says the call-up from England boss Gareth Southgate was “really hard” to turn down after being part of the country’s pathway for so long.
“Both sides were always an option,” Nketiah added.
“Naturally coming through the academy at England you have the aspiration to play here – once the call-up was there and the offer was on the table it was really hard to turn down, and something which I felt was a natural progression for myself at this stage.”
