LONDON: Charlie Austin has completed his remarkable rise from bricklayer to the England squad in the space of six years after being called up by his country for the first time.

The Queens Park Rangers striker, who has scored 17 Premier League goals this season, was one of three players to earn first selections by England on Thursday ahead of a friendly against Ireland on June 7 and a European Championship qualifier in Slovenia on June 14.

The other newcomers are Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy and Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who have impressed for lowly Premier League teams.

Five years ago, Austin was a bricklayer who was still living with his parents and playing on a part-time basis for Poole Town in the ninth tier of English football.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Robert Green (Queens Park Rangers), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley); Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United); Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal); Forwards: Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

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