On Sunday evening England boss Sam Allardyce named his squad to face Slovakia on Sunday in a World Cup qualifier. The former-West Ham boss produced very few surprises with his 23-man squad, although there was a first call-up for West Ham winger-turned-full-back Michail Antonio.
The 26-year-old scored for the Hammers in their 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday. The effort was his tenth goal since joining the Irons in September from Nottingham Forest. The winger has scored more Premier League goals than any other English midfielder in the last year and registered a league-high of eight headed goals in the top-flight.
Antonio is another player to make it to the England team having come through the leagues from non-league football all the way to the Premier League. Antonio started his career in non-league at Tooting and Mitcham United and impressed enough to earn a move to Reading after just one season after he scored 33 times for the Terrors.
A series of loan moves then followed and he finally made his mark in the Championship at Sheffield Wednesday in 2012. He impressed for the Owls for two seasons, before moving on to Forest, where he spent just a season prior to his move to the Hammers.
His pace, power and versatility have been impressive and he seems to be maturing like a fine wine. Antonio rejected the chance to play for Jamaica in May, as he believed he was good enough to play for England.
The decision has proven a valid one, as his first call-up to the Three Lions squad is just reward for his hard work and determination.