Winning the U17 European Championship in 2010 is one of my favourite moments in football.
It was an incredible experience and a memory which I will never forget. It’s something I look back on and am incredibly proud of.
We managed to do it eight years ago in Liechtenstein, which makes me feel old, but it has been a massive part of my career.
We had a great set of talent that year and many of our squad from that tournament have since progressed in the Premier League and with England, it was a privilege to play alongside the likes of Chelsea’s Ross Barkley and Watford’s Nathaniel Chalobah.
So for those players heading into the European U17 Championships that are being held in England during May, it will be very special.
To play in a major tournament, no matter what age, means it is a chance to show your ability on a great platform.
There have been some great players to come through that tournament, even players I know well like Gerard Deulofeu who played against us for Spain in the Final, and Jese Rodriguez who I play with at Stoke City now.
For these guys who are lucky enough to play in a home tournament, it is a massive experience and they can really show what they are about.
Things are very positive for England at the minute too. The younger age groups have been very successful recently, having won the World Cup at U20s and U17s level and the U19s Euros in 2017, it's a fantastic achievement.
From a senior point of view, we want to follow that and show that we are leading the way. It is a great time for English football and it is great to see the young sides doing so well.
This tournament is a great opportunity to come and see the stars of tomorrow. England will get to play their games at Walsall, Chesterfield and Rotherham and tickets are just £2 for kids and £4 for adults, so I encourage everyone in the surrounding areas and towns to come along and cheer on the team. We have a bright future in this country and these players are at the heart of that.
I am also thinking about England presently and the upcoming World Cup in Russia this summer. Now is the time for everyone to start showing what they are about. It is a World Cup year and we’re all pushing hard at our clubs to be in the best form possible.
We have two friendlies next week and they will test us, but that is what we need. We don’t want to be undercooked. If we want to be successful then we must play teams like Netherlands and Italy to compete.
Before then, I need to play well for Stoke to help us make sure we are in the Premier League next season and if I manage to do, that then I hope England selection will follow.
The battle for the England number one spot is tight, there is a great selection of goalkeepers all vying for the gloves but I am up for the battle.
See the stars of tomorrow in the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, between 4-20 May 2018.Tickets are on sale now.
