Ings: I didn't expect England call this soon
Danny Ings has explained how his England call-up took him by complete surprise after he was named in Roy Hodgson’s squad for the first time on Thursday.
The striker was sat in his car waiting to board Liverpool’s team bus ahead of the Europa League tie with FC Sion when a text message from the Football Association confirmed he’d been picked for the Euro 2016 qualifiers with Estonia and Lithuania.
Prior to that, Ings admits he had no indication he was about to earn a maiden call-up to his national side.
Ings explained to Liverpoolfc.com: “I got a text yesterday when I was in the car park about to jump on the coach to meet the boys, so it must have been about 10 minutes before the squad got announced that I found out.
“It wasn’t expected, but it was nice to get the text. I said in an interview last night, I had flights booked to go home and see the family – and they obviously had to be cancelled swiftly!
“I was over the moon about it, but it was something I didn’t expect. It’s something I’ve always wanted and it was my childhood dream, but I didn’t expect it to come this soon.
“I’ve broken into the team over the last few games, but not once did it come into my mind that I had a chance to be selected. Now it’s happened, I’m extremely grateful.”
Ings continued: “My agent was the first person I spoke to when I got the news because I was on the phone to him literally just before that.
“I got the text and rang him straight back to let him know, but by that time he already had a load of messages coming through on his phone – it was a crazy morning!”
Ings admits he hasn’t had much time to fully comprehend the news due to last night’s clash with Sion and Sunday’s Merseyside derby with Everton.
He said: “I think maybe on the Monday before we meet up is when it’ll really sink in because the focus at the moment was on last night’s game and now Sunday’s.
“I have to stay professional in that respect, give my all on Sunday if I am selected and then I can really have a think about it, prepare myself right and get ready for it.”