Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has spoken about his journey to get an England call up.
The centre forward, who was once released with teammate Declan Rice at Chelsea, is now at the top of the sport.
Nketiah is a semi-regular starter for Arsenal, where he rotates with Gabriel Jesus up front.
After joining up with the England squad, he said: It is funny how life works sometimes. We have done the full 360 to be back together. We had different journeys to get here, but we are all on the same path for club and country."
He added: I think it did [make me more determined]. I was there from the ages of nine and 14 and it came as a shock to me because I was doing well at the time.
Declan [Rice] was of that age group as well and had a similar experience. I think it gives you an awakening and just knowing that things can change like that - that you can lose everything you have worked for.
It gives you that extra bit of motivation and resilience when times are hard. I'm able to dig a level deeper than maybe some people can or don't want to go into. It's all part of the experience.
Some boys might not have experienced it but then they will have had lows in their careers. This was my journey and it has helped me by who I am today."
