West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone always felt he would get a chance with England.
The 28-year-old shot stopper got a call up to the national team for their three World Cup Qualifiers, starting with Thursday's game against San Marino.
Johnstone, who was an unused substitute in the game that England won 5-0, never gave up hope of representing his nation.
"I never feared the call wouldn't come," Johnstone said, per the Express and Star.
"One thing I knew was that I needed to get into the Premier League to have a chance of being called up into the England squad.
"At Albion we fell short one year by losing in the play-offs. Then it finally happened. And now I'm in my first season in the Premier League, I have had loads to do, I've been busy, and I've got the call-up. It's a dream come true.
"But I never shut the door, I would think about it all the time.
"I'd watch the FA TV videos of the goalkeepers training and was desperate to be a part of it.
"But I knew deep down I had to be in the Premier League and playing well to get the call-up."