Anderson: 'They made me get up and do a speech!'

England players reported for duty at St. George’s Park earlier today ahead of the September international camp, with new and returning faces checking in at the National Football Centre.

Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson was among the squad. The midfielder was selected by Thomas Tuchel to be part of his team for England’s upcoming European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Andorra and Serbia.

“At Forest, they showed the screen of me being called up in front of all the boys in the gym,” said Anderson. “We were watching the Europa League draw actually and then it came on the TV.

“They made me get up and do a speech which I wasn’t too good at but it was really good. I was just saying I was buzzing, really happy to be called up and [about] all the hard work I’ve put in.”

And the 22-year-old, who was part of Lee Carsley’s U21 UEFA EURO-winning team in Slovakia this summer, was issued some words of wisdom from club-mate and fellow England international Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of the camp.

“[He said] just to be myself and do what I’ve done to get myself here,” Anderson explained. “He’ll help me settle in so I’m glad he’s here. It’s really good – I’m enjoying it already so just excited to get on the pitch.”

Another player who could make his senior debut is Djed Spence. It’s been a whirlwind few months for the Tottenham Hotspur defender who impressed the Three Lions boss to earn his place in the squad.

“It was an amazing, surreal moment,” remembered Spence, speaking on the call-up. “I received the text about the call-up and I had a big smile on my face. I told my family and told them to watch out for the announcement. It was a great moment for me.

“I’m just grateful, to be honest. I’ve seen some of the boys I used to play with at under-21s level getting called up and it’s motivation. I’m finally here and I’m happy.

“We’ve got the game on Saturday and hopefully a good week of training.”

Ruben Loftus-Cheek also reported for duty in Burton after being added to the squad, along with Jarell Quansah, earlier this afternoon, marking his first call-up in over six years.

“We played Friday, so we had a few days off, so I flew back to my family anyway, so I was in England and then I got the message saying, ‘where are you?’” recalled the AC Milan midfielder.

“It’s a long time since I was last here – six or seven years. It was the World Cup 2018. The season after with Chelsea, I was called up but I kept getting injured, so I missed that season.”
And the 29-year-old was reunited with his former manager Tuchel, who he worked under at Chelsea.

“I was with Thomas for a year-and-a-half and we achieved some good times together,” continued Loftus-Cheek. “I’m happy to be back and reunited with him.

“It’s all flooding back at St. George’s Park. I was obviously here in the younger years in the academy and playing for the Young Lions. It’s all pretty similar! It’s good to be back.”