Danny Drinkwater made his senior professional bow in a Huddersfield Town shirt and could finish this season as an England international and Premier League winner.
Rewarded for turning Leicester City into title favourites, the 26-year-old is hoping to make an England debut against reigning World champions Germany in Berlin on Saturday night.
It’s a far cry from his first appearance for Town on loan from Manchester United back in August 2009 – he went on as a substitute to replace Gary Roberts when Southampton were beaten 3-1 at the John Smith’s Stadium (with a Jordan Rhodes double and Antony Kay strike).
He scored on his next appearance, also as a sub in a 7-1 home victory against Brighton, and was handed his first start in the very next game at Bristol Rovers.
Drinkwater’s first inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s squad, however, comes on the back of a number of consistently high-level performances for Leicester – with the Foxes currently five points clear atop the Premier League table.
Drinkwater is now looking to follow in the footsteps of teammate Jamie Vardy, the forward who made his England debut nine months ago in recognition of his goalscoring form and remains in the squad for the friendly double-header against Germany and Holland.
With a potential Premier League winners medal beckoning and a place in England’s European Championships squad now in his grasp, many would expect Drinkwater’s impending international debut to be the icing on the cake, but he is remaining level-headed for now.
“We have still got quite a bit to go in the season so the cake isn’t really made yet,” he said.
“But we are getting there definitely. My concentration is with England and it will be until the games finish on Tuesday and then we’ll focus back on Leicester.
“Everything back at Leicester is good. We left it in a good place but we focus on the Three Lions. It (having two Leicester players in the squad) is a good time for the club and reflects well on how we are doing this season.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
“It is a good reflection on what the club is achieving right now.”
Drinkwater has starred in Leicester’s midfield this season alongside summer signing N’Golo Kante - who has also been rewarded with his maiden France call-up - and is now ready to stake his claim for a place in the heart of Hodgson’s England side.
He said: “I have been given a small chance here to show what I am capable of and it is up to me to take it. If I do, I’ll be hoping that if I can stake my claim for that position, then perfect.
“It is about doing your job, really, screening the defence. Obviously international football is going to be different, I understand that.
“Maybe as the ball turns over, you have look to keep it but I am looking forward to the challenge.
“I don’t think England have been short of having a quality midfield but I guess having competition for places, it always helps push yourself in a way. It can only benefit us.”
Having risen through United’s fabled academy, Drinkwater never managed to make a single appearance for the senior side - instead going out on loan on four different occasions before joining Leicester in January 2012.
During his time at Old Trafford the 26-year-old appeared for England’s Under-18s and Under-19s but then fell out of the international picture.
Now Drinkwater is on the brink of collecting a senior cap and wants to show others not to give up on their hopes of representing their country.
Asked if his call-up could give encouragement to other players who have missed out at other age levels, he said: “I guess so and if it does, then brilliant.
“It gives an idea that if it doesn’t happen straight away, it could always happen in the future.
“I’ve played a few times for the under-age groups where a few more players have come through. But it always helps knowing one of the lads so well like Vards. It’s been good.”
