'Playing for England would be a dream come true'

Nathaniel Clyne couldn't wait to tell his mum when he found out he'd earned his first senior international call-up.

The Southampton defender's fine form at club level this season was rewarded when Roy Hodgson named him in his 21-man England squad for their two European Qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia.

And with a home game against the Sammarinese first up on Thursday, Clyne is hoping he gets the chance to fulfil a dream of playing at Wembley Stadium.

"I was buzzing when I first got the message I was going to be in the England squad. I phoned all my friends and family and told them the good news. I just can't wait to get started," said Clyne.

"The first person I called was my mum, she's been there throughout my whole career and has given me confidence.

"It brought me back to thinking about my roots and all the hard work I have done to get to where I am now."

The 23-year-old continued: "If I get the chance to play it will be a dream come true.

"It is something I've been dreaming about since I was young, walking out there at Wembley, wearing the badge and hopefully I can put in a good performance.

"I've never played there, so I'm really looking forward to playing there, hopefully."

Having originally joined Tottenham Hotspur as a youngster, the south London-born full-back moved nearer home to the Crystal Palace academy, and it's there where he made his breakthrough.

In 2012, Clyne signed for Premier League new boys Southampton, and quickly established himself as one of the top-flight's most promising players.

This season he's added to his impressive performances with a couple of goals in the opening stages of the campaign.

And with so many players in the England squad having Southampton links, it's hardly surprising he's felt right at home during the early days of his first get-together.

"I definitely feel I've become a better as player [since joining Southampton], playing with better players," he said. "I've added much to my game, I'm better at attacking and defending and have grown more as a leader as well.

"I've got more confidence to start having shots at goal - if you don't shoot, you don't score. I've got into the areas where before I might have passed, but now I'm shooting and it's going in for me, which I'm delighted about. Hopefully I can get more goals to my game."

Clyne said: "There are a lot of faces that I've seen before. The team is fairly young and a lot of players I've played with at Under-21s and players I've played with previously at Southampton. I've settled in well and I'm raring to go.

"It's nice to be in the senior team, this is where you want to be, playing at the highest level for England and fighting for a first-team spot."

Clyne claps after his goal helped Saints beat Arsenal

England's encounter with San Marino is only their second game of their qualification campaign for Euro 2016, following last month's victory over Switzerland.

With it being the early stages on the road to France, Clyne is earmarking another chance to pull on the England shirt at a major tournament, having experienced Finals with the U19s and Under-21s.

However, he knows it's all about his form at club level and will be focused on impressing for the Saints to earn more opportunities for his country.

"That's the aim for me right now," he added, "to continue my good run of form for my club and hopefully keep getting selected and doing well if I get the call to play for the international side.

"This is my opportunity now, I need to show I'm good enough and hopefully I will. I'm confident and I think I deserve to be here.

"If you are not confident in yourself, who is going to be confident for you? I'm on a good run of form and feeling fit and I'm ready to go."

Tickets for the game against San Marino are still available. You can buy online via www.TheFA.com/tickets