Brighton shot-stopper Jason Steele is the latest shock addition to England’s squad, with the goalkeeper himself booking a family holiday during the international break.
Jason Steele was one of the shock additions to the latest England squad
Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele has admitted he had booked a holiday during the international break before securing a surprise call-up to the England squad, but the 35-year-old admitted: “I couldn’t have stopped going without the money.”
Manager Thomas Tuchel has named an additional 35 players in his squad for Uruguay’s friendly against Japan at Wembley in March. That includes five goaltenders, the shocking name of Steele, who was never even mentioned or mentioned as part of the team before.
Steele played just five games all season and made no Premier League appearances with Bert Verbruggen remaining Brighton’s number one. As a result, Steele thought it was safe to book a family vacation for the next few weeks, but he plans to cancel those plans immediately.
He told the Telegraph: “Have I booked a holiday? Maybe I have…My wife will take care of everything. Don’t worry about that. Money won’t stop me from going.”
Steele did not discuss his selection with Tuchel, but he will now join the likes of Three Lions No. 1 Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford and Dean Henderson. The latter is among 11 players who arrived late to camp and will miss the first game.
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The Brighton substitute played for England throughout his teenage years and continued to be selected for the Under-21s, but that was the end of his international career. Steele’s call-up drew huge praise from his teammates, putting him front and center over the weekend.
Steele was pushed towards the fans 24 hours after receiving a rapturous reception following Liverpool’s 2-1 win. “I went to a team meeting on Friday and my teammates applauded me. That means more to me than anything. It’s very emotional.”
Manager Thomas Tuchel names expanded squad for March’s international match
Steele rose through the ranks at Middlesbrough and was No. 1 in the Championship for several years. He moved to Blackburn, where he once again became first choice. After a year at Sunderland, he signed for Brighton, who were in the top flight. He has only made 35 appearances in the Premier League since 2018, but is thrilled to see his dedication pay off.
“It was always my dream to represent my country. I was lucky to achieve it from the age of 15 to 21,” said the goalkeeper. “Normally that’s how you prepare for a senior event. It came a little later than we would have liked. It’s been a great journey, full of patience, hard work and sacrifice. Even at 35 years old, I still enjoy throwing myself on the field every day and giving my all for this football club. And in the end, it’s paying off.”
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