Anderson: 'They made me get up and do a speech!'

Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence were among the new faces, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek returned to the senior fold

England players reported for duty at St. George’s Park earlier today ahead of the September international camp, with new and returning faces checking in at the National Football Centre.

Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson was among the squad. The midfielder was selected by Thomas Tuchel to be part of his team for England’s upcoming European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Andorra and Serbia.

“At Forest, they showed the screen of me being called up in front of all the boys in the gym,” said Anderson. “We were watching the Europa League draw actually and then it came on the TV.

“They made me get up and do a speech which I wasn’t too good at but it was really good. I was just saying I was buzzing, really happy to be called up and [about] all the hard work I’ve put in.”

And the 22-year-old, who was part of Lee Carsley’s U21 UEFA EURO-winning team in Slovakia this summer, was issued some words of wisdom from club-mate and fellow England international Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of the camp.

“[He said] just to be myself and do what I’ve done to get myself here,” Anderson explained. “He’ll help me settle in so I’m glad he’s here. It’s really good – I’m enjoying it already so just excited to get on the pitch.”

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