Swansea midfielder Britton harbours England hopes

Swansea City midfielder Leon Britton admits he's eyeing a shock England call.

It may have taken him until his 30th year, but south London-born Britton is finally fulfilling his schoolboy promise.

His last start in an England shirt was in a 2-0 friendly youth win in Turkey.

“I’ve still got the video and I can ­remember it was quite a hostile ­atmosphere,” he told the Daily Star. “It’s just great playing for your country.

“At that age it is a massive thing. I’ve got a couple of England shirts and a cap as well that I framed.

“It was because I went to Lilleshall, the national school, and at the end of each season they give you a shirt and a cap, which I have still got in the house. I am very proud of it.

“When I moved for a lot of money at 16 it was a big story.

“A lot was expected of me, like ­breaking through into the West Ham first team, like some of the other boys – Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe, Rio ­Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard – did.

“Looking back, I wasn’t good enough at the time, to be honest.

“I think I have improved, particularly now. I’ve been lucky at a club like ­Swansea, getting promoted in quick succession, where you’ve got to step up your game to stay part of it because the standard of players gets higher as you go up.”