Town goalkeeper Will Henry is looking to impress England U19’s as he bids to represent his country on the big stage next month.
The talented stopper, who once again showed his huge potential in Swindon colours last season, was called up to the U19’s squad earlier this week.
As a result, Henry flew out to Spain with his country yesterday and took part in his first training session earlier as Keith Downing’s side get ready for the UEFA U19 European Championships in Georgia, which begin on Sunday 2nd July 2017.
Henry is now out to show what he can do over the next few days in order to make sure he’s on the list when the final squad is announced.
“To be called up to represent your country is a massive honour and I’m just going to take my opportunity now to impress,” he told swindontownfc.co.uk.
“It was excitement when I found out because it is my first call-up to the actual U19’s squad and I’m just really excited to get started, get out to Spain and get on with the training camp.
“I want to take this opportunity and prove myself.
“The ultimate aim is to take my opportunity here, impress the coaches and to get in the final squad for the actual tournament in July.
“I’ve got to keep pushing, keep working and keep impressing the coaches which I seem to be doing at the minute, so that’s all I can do.
“They’ve kept tabs on me throughout the whole season, Eric Steele (Goalkeeping Coach at The FA) came to watch a few training sessions and the two Goalkeeping Camps were good experiences and I impressed there.
“They’ve also watched footage of me playing so the fact that they have shown interest in me is really positive.”
Henry completed his first full day with England U19’s earlier and he was impressed by the facilities out in Spain.
“The facilities are fantastic out here. The weather is really nice and it is really hot, so that is something I’ve got to get used to quite fast,” he continued.
“The hotel is really nice and it has got all the facilities you need in terms of gym and recovery, and the training pitches are of good quality too so I’ve just got to take advantage of these facilities and use it to perform in every training I’ve got out here.”
With the UEFA U19 European Championships fast approaching, there is plenty of hard work on the agenda for Will and his England colleagues over the course of the next few days.
“We’ve got double sessions every day but I wouldn’t say they were full on because most of us have come back from having a few weeks off from a full season with our clubs,” he added.
“It is about using this week to ease us back in ready for the training camps at St George’s Park, where they will probably be more full on.”
Finally, Henry is currently rubbing shoulders with players from English football’s top clubs and he’s relishing the experience to learn off them.
“Most of the players are from top flight clubs and I would say that there are a couple who have played for the first-team, but most of them are U23’s,” he said.
“They are a really nice bunch of lads and I get on with them well.
“It is another experience for me to use for my development, especially when I come back to Swindon to really push on, impress the new manager and really stake a claim.
“All I can do this week is keep my head down, work hard and just impress the coaches in order to get called up to that final squad.”
