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"I was like; 'Good Banter!'" - Michail Antonio on reacting to his first England call-up

Sam Allardyce's first England squad, saw only one uncapped player make the grade. Michail Antonio...



"I was like; 'Good Ban...
Soccer

"I was like; 'Good Banter!'" - Michail Antonio on reacting to his first England call-up

Sam Allardyce's first England squad, saw only one uncapped player make the grade. Michail Antonio.

The 26-year-old West Ham midfielder has previously batted away attempts  of an international call-up from Jamaica in the hopes of playing for England.

Antonio only joined West Ham last season, and is one of three players in the squad to have previously played non-league football. He began his career at Tooting & Mitcham United before moving up the leagues. Chris Smalling and Jamie Vardy have both played non-league football at the start of their careers.

While Antonio's inclusion may have come as a surprise to many, he has already scored twice this season, and has played at right back and on each side of West Ham's midfield.

Speaking to FA TV after his first day in St. George's Park with the England squad, Antonio admitted he thought he was the subject of a prank, when told of his call-up after West Ham's loss to Manchester City.

"The physio's come over to me and goes; 'You've been called up'. I was like "Hahahahaha, funny'. He was like; 'No. No. No. Seriously.' I was like; 'Good Banter', and he was like; 'No. No. No. Seriously!'"

"I've looked at him for like a good 30 seconds. He's looked at me and I'm like; 'I don't know if I can take you seriously'. He was like; 'Seriously', and then showed me the piece of paper."

Good banter indeed.

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