Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin says he was given ‘all he could ask for’ in a video call with England boss Thomas Tuchel.
The 29-year-old last featured for his country in 2021 at the European Championships when he came off the bench in the quarter-final win over Ukraine. But his performances and 10 goals for Leeds this season in the Premier League have reopened the door to international football and he is expected to win his 12th cap in the friendly against Uruguay on Friday night.
Calvert-Lewin is one of those who has been called up for the first of two camps during this break. Boss Thomas Tuchel wanted to take a look at some players he hasn’t yet worked with extensively, before reintroducing more regular Three Lions representatives at the weekend ahead of the game against Japan.
The news of his return to the squad was announced last Thursday, but Calvert-Lewin found out on Wednesday night. “The manager called me the night before the announcement,” he told the club’s official website. “I had a short video call with him just and he just told me that I was going to be getting called up. Obviously I was very happy. He was explaining how it's going to work in the week and it is an opportunity for me to impress and get in front of him, which is all I can ask for.”
The striker trained with his international team-mates on Tuesday at St George’s. Even just pulling on the training kit bearing the Three Lions motif represents a milestone after such a long time outside England’s plans and he credits his family for helping him get back there.
“It is hard to put into words, I’m probably not really taking it in yet that I am going to be joining up with the squad and have an England call up,” he said. “It has been a long road to get that recognition of having the opportunity to represent England again, so I am absolutely delighted. It is always nice when a plan comes together, we spoke a lot together about what the next steps where, and I can’t wait to get out there and feel how special it's going to be. It has been a long road. I was a million miles away from where I am now, not so long ago. So I thank my wife and my daughter who are my foundation around me, as I would not be in this position without them.”
There is no doubt that Calvert-Lewin has benefitted from the decision to put his trust in the project pitched by Leeds recruitment chiefs and Daniel Farke last summer, and the support he has received since. The striker has spoken in numerous interviews about the confidence he had in himself to prove he could stay fit and deliver performances in the Premier League but it still took a leap of faith from both parties. One payoff is his England return - which led to an outpouring of congratulations from staff and team-mates at Thorp Arch - but there is still another to be earned in the Premier League with the relegation battle entering its run-in.
“It has been really nice,” he said. “I cannot say I have ever felt love like it. It has been really special and I have appreciated it a lot from the players and staff and the people at the club. I have definitely felt everyone's genuine happiness for me and it has been a really nice experience. We have still got a lot to achieve ourselves at club level so I am still very much focused on my job here, and I am really proud that my time here has helped me to represent England again. I’ll know more of how I feel if I get the chance to put the shirt on.”
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