West Ham United are delighted to confirm that Aaron Cresswell has been called into the senior England squad for the first time.
The Hammers left-back has been rewarded for two outstanding seasons in Claret and Blue with a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier with Scotland and friendly international with Spain at Wembley.
Cresswell has been regularly tipped for international honours during his time in east London, during which he has made 93 appearances, scored four goals and won the Hammer of the Year award. He replaces the injured Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater in the squad and linked up with the squad at St George's Park on Monday evening.
Speaking exclusively whufc.com, the 26-year-old said his family would be immensely proud of his inclusion in the Three Lions’ squad for two big matches.
“Of course, I am obviously delighted to receive a call-up and it’s a very proud moment for me and my family,” he said. "It is every boy's dream to play for their country and I am looking forward to the next two weeks.
"I just want to enjoy the experience and do my best in training and, if I can do that, then I hope I can achieve my dream of pulling on an England shirt, which is what I've wanted to do ever since I started playing football as a little kid in Liverpool.
“My main focus has always been on playing for West Ham and doing the best I can for my Club. As long as I was giving 100 per cent, that's all I could do.”
Cresswell is naturally relishing the opportunity of training - and playing - alongside the best players in the country.
"I haven't played alongside any of the other lads in the squad, but of course I have played against them all in the Premier League and they are top players," he revealed. "I am sure the training is going to be at a real high tempo and I can't wait to be part of it."
I am obviously delighted to receive a call-up and it’s a very proud moment for me and my family
Aaron Cresswell
Cresswell paid tribute to the Hammers for giving him the opportunity to play in the Premier League when they signed him from Ipswich Town in summer 2014. Two-and-a-half years later, he has realised his dream of an England call-up.
"I can't thank the Club enough, particularly the fans who have been different class to me since I arrived. Now, I want to go away and make them, my family, friends and everyone at West Ham proud."
Unbeaten England host Scotland in their fourth World Cup qualifying Group F fixture at Wembley on Friday at 7.45pm, then welcome Spain to the Home of Football at 8pm on Tuesday 15 November.
Should he feature in either match, Cresswell would become the 40th West Ham player to pull on and England shirt and the first since Stewart Downing appeared against Scotland in Glasgow in November 2014.
He would also join the roll-call of Hammers left-backs to have represented the Three Lions, which also includes Frank Lampard Sr, Stuart Pearce and Paul Konchesky.
West Ham’s most-capped player is the late, great Bobby Moore, who played 108 times between 1962 and 1973, followed by fellow 1966 FIFA World Cup winner Geoff Hurst with 49 and Trevor Brooking with 47.
Of the current squad, Andy Carroll earned a solitary cap while with West Ham back in 2012, while Michail Antonio was including in the last two squads, but did not feature.