Gary Hooper knows that two cup wins over the next five days could open up an England international career.
The Celtic striker was named in the England u-21 squad on Monday and will join up with Stuart Pearce next week following the Co-Operative Cup Final with Rangers.
Twelve months on from helping Scunthorpe escape from relegation from The Championship life couldn’t be better for the striker who is determined to take his international chance as well as he’s handled the move to Celtic.
“With me coming up from non-league football it was a surprise getting the call-up but it’s my dream to play for England and now I’m in the Under-21 squad,” he admitted.
“When I moved to Celtic I wasn’t thinking about playing international football- playing for England is a bonus.
“It’s great to be called up and I’m looking forward to it. When the qualifiers started I was 21 so I knew I was still eligible.
“I thought I’d take a year to settle in and find my feet when I came up here and I didn’t think it would come this early, but I’m very happy.
“The Euro Championships are in the summer but I’m just focusing on the cup games for Celtic and then going off with the Under-21s. The European Championships are a big tournament and I’d love to be involved.
“I just need to get through these games first and then take it from there but it’s just a dream come true being selected for England.”
There had been speculation that Hooper’s great-great-great-great-great grandfather had once tossed a caber but the strikers international ambitions never considered wearing a kilt.
He added: “The fact is I feel 100 per cent English, because I was brought up in Loughton, Essex.
“I’ve been to England games as a kid and watched the games on the telly. The England strikers I admired were the likes of Shearer, Owen, Teddy (Sheringham), now I’ve got a call-up. I’m very happy.”
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