Crystal Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell says he is living the dream after a call up to the England squad.
Injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James led Gareth Southgate to draft in the 22-year-old and fellow full-back Kyle Walker-Peters for this month's friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.
Unlike the latter, Mitchell had never represented England at any youth level before receiving a maiden international call-up that is just reward for his superb Crystal Palace performances.
“It's a dream come true for me and for my family," Brent-born Mitchell said.
“I first lived in Wembley literally less than five minutes away from the stadium and then I moved a bit further out, but it was like 10-15 minutes away so the arch has always been there.
“I've always seen it. It's always been something that when I've either been at school playing football or just literally out, I've always seen the arch."
Mitchell expressed gratitude to all manner of people following his call-up, but it is his mother's support that provided the platform for this rise.
“She's been like a rock that helped me get to where I am," he said. “There's plenty (of sacrifices she made).
“For example, taking me to training, sometimes it wasn't always the easiest. She didn't drive so sometimes taking me to Brentford wasn't always the easiest thing.
“She has other things to do, some training is in the evening, it wasn't always practical for her.
“But throughout anything, she always made sure that I was able to train, I was able to have anything I needed to be able to perform and get where I am today."
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