Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard insists he was did not take lightly his call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad earlier this season.

Bullard, 30, said: "It was a bit of a shock when I was called up but I loved every minute of my time with the squad.

"I felt I held my own in training but I didn't get the chance to play in the games against Andorra and Croatia.

"I was waiting for the call for the next squad but it didn't come and I was gutted about that. But not enough to go ranting and raving about it.

"I still hope to get another opportunity. Never say never."

It has been rumoured Bullard might not treat the game with enough gravity to impress Capello.

But he said; "If I took my football deadly serious, I might not have got to where I am now. I play my best football when I'm enjoying it.

"I could never treat the game like Roy Keane did. He played his best football when he wanted to kill someone. I'm not like that - and a lot of the boys I'm playing against are my mates.

"But just because I play with a smile on my face, it doesn't mean I muck about on the pitch."