Sam Johnstone is delighted his move to Crystal Palace has been rewarded by an England call.
Johnstone joined Palace last season from West Brom.
He told Palace’s match programme: “It’s always an aim. It was an unbelievable feeling and, to be honest, I always said to myself I need to be in the Premier League to have a chance of going with England. I’d missed out on a few occasions.
“It shows that if you’re doing well and you’re good there’s a chance to be called up into the squad. Conor Gallagher while he was here gets into the squad along with the other two [Marc Guéhi and Tyrick Mitchell] and that’s great for them and Crystal Palace.
“It means everyone knows if they do well they have a chance of being called up into the England squad. That’s a great thing, a great thing the manager has put out there because lads are hungry then to get called-up, do well for the club, benefit the club and then go with England.
“I was going down the long road to St George’s nervous. I knew everyone, the majority of the staff I knew, majority of the players I knew. It’s just that quality, the best players with England that you’re going to train with. I knew I would have to be on my game.
“Adrenaline takes you through that and I just needed the first one or two sessions out of the way to be in and fine. But… everyone welcomed me and was great. It was brilliant and such a high standard to train with.”
