The Derby County defender had just featured in a ding-dong 5-5 draw for the Rams’ U18s against Liverpool on Saturday, ready to rest and prepare for another week of training at the club’s academy.
USA v England
Nike U17 International Tournament
11pm GMT, Friday 28 November
Premier Sports Campus, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota
But up in the north-east, Middlesbrough youngster Hayden Coulson unfortunately picked up a knock during the same afternoon, forcing him to pull out of John Peacock’s England U17s squad for this week’s Nike International Tournament – and then the phonecall came.
“I was at home on Saturday night and I got the call from The FA to say I’d been called up as his replacement,” said Stabana. “I was excited straight away, especially with it being in Florida.
“I’d had a game against Liverpool, which Adam Phillips who is out here too also played in for them.
“So I was just at home when I found out. There was a bit of panic, as I had to get to London to fly the next morning, and it did come as a shock. .
“I’d been on the standby list twice before this but it’s a bit of a whirlwind.”
And four days in to his international career, the 16-year-old is loving life with his country.
“It’s been good and I’m very happy to be here. I’m so pleased and looking forward to the games starting.”
He added: “It’s very different from my club. I’m coming in with a lot of different and new players and characters, so that’s a test in itself for all of us.
"I was just at home when I found out. There was a bit of panic, as I had to get to London to fly the next morning"
Kyron Stabana Derby County
“But it’s been a very good experience so far and I just want to prove everyone right that I deserve to be here.
“Games with USA, Brazil and Australia – I just can’t believe it really. In previous years people have said this and that about me, so it feels good to be here and I can’t wait to learn from this experience.”
Stabana was a hotshot striker throughout his childhood, but was slowly moved out wide before he finally found the position he “loves”.
“It’s been difficult going from up front, then to the wing, and then defence but I’ve enjoyed it and I think right back is my best position,” he said.
“I was halfway through the U15s season when the change happened. My two coaches, Lee Glover and Lee Morris, made the decision to play me there.
It is all well and good filling in and “doing a job” – but from his first game at full-back Stabana knew it was right for him – and he was helped along by some fatherly advice.
"I get the same joy now from stopping goals as I did scoring them – but I still like to try and get a few"
Kyron Stabana
“I’d been out of the side a bit, so I was just pleased to get back into the team from the fringes, but I’ve enjoyed it and I wanted to hold down that position.
“My Dad really helped me with his advice. He used to play on the wing and then moved to defence, so he has given me a lot of useful information which has really helped and I’m grateful for it.
“He didn’t play at the highest standard, but he knows and watched a lot of great players from back in the day like Cyrille Regis – so he had a lot of good influences around him.”
He added: “I had to get a new mental approach but I did well and played in the Premier League tournament against Crewe and I enjoyed it straight away.
“I get the same joy now from stopping goals as I did scoring them – but I still like to try and get a few.”
