Osman enjoys England spotlight

Lyndon Lloyd , 12 November, 16comments | Jump to most recent

Leon Osman took questions from the national press for the first time today following his first call-up to the England squad.

The 31 year-old was at ease as he described his excitement at the possibility of winning his first cap but he is prepared for the reality that his inclusion in Roy Hodgson's squad could be a one-off. Nevertheless, he is enjoying the moment.

‘It's fantastic to be here. If it's a one-off that's great but, being the character I am, if I get in the squad I want a cap and if I get one cap I'll want two. I don't think I'll settle for anything but if it turns out to be one cap I'll be delighted.'

Osman recounted the stories of when he himself was told of his call-up and then when he revealed the surprise to his seven year-old son, Cole, later that day.

"We were out on the training pitch when I saw more staff than usual by the side of the pitch," Osman said. "I didn't think anything of it at the time. Then the manager called us together in a circle and announced I was in the squad.

"There was a lot of hair ruffling and kidney punching and the child-like stuff that comes with it. All the staff were cheering. It was a great moment."

Having been on a school trip for the day, his son was oblivious until Osman sat him down in front of Sky Sports News in the evening.

"It was a great moment," Ossie said. "There was a confused look on his face and I said, 'That's our name, you know'. When he realised, he was made up. I'm sure he'll be allowed to stay up and watch."

The midfielder also joked about leaving the small but familiar group of players who are usually left behind at Finch Farm during international breaks.

"There's usually only four or five of us left behind there — me, Phil Nev, Sylvain Distin, Tony Hibbert and Steven Pienaar." he said. "I'm a lot happier to be here I can tell you. I'm sure they'll miss me, to be honest! I'm the lively one!"

Quotes or other material sourced from The Independent

Reader Comments (16)

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Jason Heng
1 Posted 13/11/2012 at 04:56:16

Proud of you, Ossie! Enjoy your moment.

Ian Taylor
2 Posted 13/11/2012 at 07:37:36

All the best, Leon, you've earned this.

Mick Quirke
3 Posted 13/11/2012 at 08:49:08

What a man-manager Moyes is! Ossie must have felt 10 foot tall.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/nov/12/leon-osman-england-everton

Trevor Powell
4 Posted 13/11/2012 at 10:03:45

Great recognition for a great club man. Show them your best Leon!

Mike Powell
5 Posted 13/11/2012 at 11:31:24

Good luck, Ossie... I might even watch England for a change.

Denis Byrne
6 Posted 13/11/2012 at 11:29:52

It's weird isn't it. My kids were so freakin chuffed for Leon it was like I'D been called up to the squad! It really feels like one of the family has got recognition, just can't help feeling soppy over this. Nice one, Leon, cuz, bro, dad ....

Dave White
7 Posted 13/11/2012 at 12:38:02

One of football's nice guys, a consummate professional and hitherto hugely underrated. Well done lad!

Mike Keating
8 Posted 13/11/2012 at 14:00:08

"A lot of hair ruffling"?

I don't think so, Leon – anyway, enjoy the moment... but more importantly keep on putting in good performances for the Blues.

Nick Entwistle
9 Posted 13/11/2012 at 14:22:16

What a proud moment it will be, and then realises he needs to pass the ball to Steven Gerrard.

Sam Hoare
10 Posted 13/11/2012 at 15:36:58

I wonder if Chelsea will confuse him with Fellaini and buy him for £30m. Always thought that was the case when Real Madrid bought Gravesen looking for a tough tackling enforcer when they probably had been watching Lee Carsley. Probably a touch more resemblance between Gravesen and Carsley than between Ossie and Fella though!

Alan McGuffog
11 Posted 13/11/2012 at 16:27:10

Delighted for Leon and for all the Toffeeweb contributors who, to a man and woman, have supported Ossie over the years without a word of criticism. He has always been placed on the same pedestal as players like Tony Hibbert.

That was me experimenting with irony... I have had a go over the years about some of his shortcomings but I will say that his first touch is one of the best I have ever seen in a blue shirt.

Graham Hammond
12 Posted 13/11/2012 at 17:07:24

Delighted for you Leon.

Well deserved but sadly your international recognition has come late in the day which is a real pity. Hope you start the game, grab a goal, show the shower how to pass a ball, finish the game on the field but most importantly don't get injured!

We have recognised your value even if successive England 'Managers' haven't!

Peter Warren
13 Posted 13/11/2012 at 19:13:34

Tidy player, great professional and good technique. A good squad player for us, I'm made up for him. But let's not get carried away: Arteta was a wonderful player for us and we do lack a top central midfielder. Arsenal have someone in central midfield, I think his name is Diaby, unfortunately he's always injured but we're missing someone of that calibre

Karl Meighan
14 Posted 13/11/2012 at 19:26:02

The slow pace Internationals are played at will probably suit Osman as he has bags of footballing ability, being big strong athletic and shit on the ball is one of the reasons England make a cunt of themselves in tournaments.

Milner, Barry, Shelvey, Rodwell and the likes of Richardson have all had caps and imo none of them players are head and shoulders above Osman so why not?

Good luck to him and I hope he just keeps the ball and keeps it ticking over if he gets on as its something England struggle to do regardless of the opponents.

Tom Bowers
15 Posted 13/11/2012 at 21:58:37

Osman will probably be used as a sub for the last 20 minutes. Let's face it, if he wasn't good enough 3 or 4 years ago, he's not good enough now.

If this was not a friendly then Hodgson would not have called him up. It is purely a gesture to placate the Evertonians who voiced amazement that Shelvey got a cap last time England played.

As I had said in an earlier post, Hodgson seems to be giving all the Englishmen out there a call up to his squads for whatever reason. Personally I would sooner none of the Everton players played as we don't have the strength in depth to cover for these players if they get injured and for what — a nothing game?

Drew O'Neall
16 Posted 13/11/2012 at 22:19:02

Nailed it Karl.

Why can't England managers, media, supporters see that our players are the equivalent of 1988 Wimbledon in international football (actually that's unfair, at least Wimbledon knew their identity, if England used their players like Wimbledon did we'd get further in major tournaments) and players of Osman's ilk are what is required at international level, at least in midfield.

You have to be prepared to receive the ball in close proximity to opposition players and our shaved apes; Barry, Milner, Gerrard etc just aren't.

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