Aaron Ramsdale says Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson wasted no time in making him feel part of the England set-up. The Sheffield United shot-stopper had only featured at under 21 level for his country prior to this summer, but saw his outstanding form in the second half of last season rewarded with a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad. It’s been quite a ‘surreal’ last 24 hours for the keeper, who says he has been left ‘speechless’ after getting the call.
Aaron Ramsdale said: “Surreal is the word, speechless. It’s tinged a little bit because I am devastated for Dean. The goalkeeper’s union is strong and for him to have that opportunity taken away from him is devastating for him. I have had mixed emotions, really. Obviously on my side I have been over the moon, but seeing Dean earlier on, he’s been fantastic saying ‘it’s my time now’. I can’t speak highly enough of Dean. He’s given me the credit. It’s been a strange day, a long day but I am glad to be up here now and ready to kick on.”
The fact that Ramsdale’s first thought was not for himself but for a team-mate is also a nod towards the team spirit within Southgate’s squad. He admitted he was immediately made to feel welcome when he was first called up to the camp by Harry Kane and Jordan Henderson.
Aaron Ramsdale said: “When I was up in Middlesbrough the other week, the lads didn’t need to come and sit with me for dinner. They could have left me to the young lads who I knew, but that wasn’t the case. I spent time with the experienced lads. I had dinner with Harry and Jordan Henderson, so it’s a credit to them. I have seen the majority of them since coming back yesterday and they have all been very welcoming, as they were before. I was watching the game at the weekend and jumping up and down when we scored. I have just seen Raz [Raheem Sterling] now and I have just tried to act cool and not say anything. I did not think things could get much better than the camp up in Middlesbrough. Being on the bench, even if I wasn’t going to get on, I stood there with my kit on and listened to the national anthem and it just gave me goosebumps all over my body. I was imagining what it would be like at Wembley. I tried desperately hard to get a ticket for the games and I couldn’t get one. It’s crazy how things work. I have been a little bit speechless, but I have been out on the grass with the goalkeeper coach just to get my eye back in and I am ready to hit the ground running with the team.”
