Germany vs England: Danny Drinkwater ‘undaunted’ by prospect of facing world’s best
The Leicester City midfielder is expected to be handed his first senior cap against either the Germans on Saturday or in Tuesday’s Wembley friendly against the Netherlands
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Danny Drinkwater has claimed he is ready for the challenge of making his England debut against Germany in Berlin by insisting he is undaunted by the prospect of lining up against the world champions.
The Leicester City midfielder is expected to be handed his first senior cap against either the Germans on Saturday or in Tuesday’s Wembley friendly against the Netherlands following a hugely impressive campaign with the surprise Premier League leaders.
Drinkwater, 26, has earned his elevation to the senior squad – having last represented England at Under-19 level – after becoming an integral part of Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester team this season.
But despite the possibility of being handed an international baptism of fire against Joachim Löw’s World Cup winners in the Olympic Stadium, Drinkwater insists he has no doubts over his readiness to claim his England chance.
“I am not daunted,” Drinkwater said. “I would say I am more excited than anything because I am a football fan. I have watched [the best] players like that week in, week out, so to play against them would be an exciting experience.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity and hopefully I take the chance. Even if I wasn’t getting a chance, it would just be good to be around the lads, but playing a game as well will be brilliant.”
Drinkwater, who emerged as a youngster at Manchester United alongside the likes of Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, spent time on loan at Huddersfield, Cardiff, Watford and Barnsley before joining Leicester for an undisclosed fee in January 2012.
He admits that after his circuitous route back to the Premier League, he had little expectation of an England call-up ahead of Euro 2016.
“I wasn’t really focusing on this as a target,” Drinkwater said. “It has just sort of happened, which is massive. It is absolutely huge.
“It just highlights what type of a season it has been. You hear little things here and there, but I was kind of focusing on club football. The call-up has just kind of happened and I am over the moon.”
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