England debutants eager to impress Fabio Capello
Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd, the first Championship player to have been called up to the English national team since 2007, has said he is eager to impress manager Fabio Capello.
Bothroyd, 28, was handed his first international call-up on Saturday 13 November, when Capello named him in the squad that will face France at Wembley on Wednesday 17 November.
The Englishman, who began his career with a two-year spell in Arsenal's youth academy between 1998 and 2000, has impressed for Cardiff by scoring 15 goals this season.
Bothroyd's inclusion is partly due to the absence of injured strikers Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Defoe, Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora, but the Islington native was nonetheless ecstatic after training with the English team on Monday.
"It was the best day of my career to get that call and I am happy to be here," he said at a press conference following the training session. "When you meet players like Stevie Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand you feel you have to step up and show your worth. They
are world-class players, it's terrific. If I am involved on Wednesday it will be another great day for me."
Bothroyd added that he has learned from the mistakes he made at Arsenal.
The London club sold the striker to Coventry City after he threw a shirt at youth team boss Don Howe, disappointed with being replaced during an under-19 cup final.
"It was disheartening to leave and I've had a long journey. I like to think I am back on track now. There have been lots of downs but the last couple of years I have knuckled down. I have made a conscious effort to turn my life around."
Henderson also hoping to play a part
Another fresh face in Capello's squad is Jordan Henderson, a midfielder who plays his club football for Sunderland in the Premier League.
"I'm really looking forward to it, I'll train well and hopefully get a chance to play," the 20-year-old Henderson told reporters on Monday. "It's a great opportunity for me and a few of the younger lads to show what we can do. I'll do everything to try and
take that chance."
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