Are you serious?

England manager Roy Hodgson sprung a surprise this morning by calling Adam Lallana into the England squad.

The Southampton man, as he told the official Southampton website, was so surprised when Nigel Adkins told him he had been called-up he did not believe him: 'I didn't think the gaffer was being serious when he called to tell me this morning

'I was at home about to head into the training ground when he called - I must have asked if he was having me on a dozen times!

'I'm totally shocked to be honest.'

Lallana is unlikely to feature for England against the Ukraine tomorrow but the former U18, U19 and U21 international is still experiencing the 'proudest moment' of his career to date and he is 'excited' about being around the squad.

A number of players with Southampton backgrounds are now in and around the squad, with the 24-year-old the latest of them - he knows this proves the club are doing something right: it reflects really well on the club.

'It shows just how far Southampton has come to have an English player represented at national level.

'We have a lot of talented young English players here and I'm sure that I won't be the last person to represent our country.'

The likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started out at Southampton before big money moves to the premier league with Arsenal, and they are now England internationals.

As much as it pains me, as a Pompey fan, to give a Saints player - or the club - credit I have to do this!

Lallana could have easily left them when they dropped down the divisions but he did not and this has paid off.

It just frustrates me that the likes of Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and (Welshman) Gareth Bale, even Lallana perhaps, have come through the Southampton academy when perhaps they could have Pompey's, this shows testament to the set-up that they have as a club from top to bottom and is one that I am envious of about our South Coast rivals...

Vital England on:

Vital England on:

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