Promising youngster Hayden Coulson has been receiving some words of advice from two Boro team-mates who have done it all at Under-17s level ahead of meeting up with the England squad this week.
Coulson is currently with the Young Lions in Portugal preparing for their Algarve Tournament opener against Holland on Friday afternoon, when he hopes to impress enough to land a spot in next month’s squad for the Euro Elite Round qualifiers.
His Boro colleagues Callum Cooke and Ben Gibson have both won the European Championship under the guidance of head coach John Peacock in 2014 and 2010 respectively, and they have been quick to offer support to their young team-mate.
“Callum mentioned this tournament to me a few weeks ago, and said that it is a great one to be involved in. He’s been in this position only a year ago, so he knows exactly what it is about,” Coulson told TheFA.com.
“It’s good to know that people from your club have been there and done it before.
“The seniors also have a bit of advice for me to when they realise I’m coming away with England.
“Ben Gibson talks to me all the time about it, telling me how proud and great it is to represent your country.
“He has helped me prepare for the social side of things when I’ve been coming away too. He told me how important it is to get involved with the lads and build up the team spirit.
“That is slowly developing. We are a bit quiet, but we are coming together and hopefully that is happening at the right time.”
Coulson comes into the international fold on a high, with his club flying high at all levels.
Middlesbrough sit top of the Championship table and the club’s U21s are performing well in the league and the U18s, with whom Coulson is a regular for, are runaway leaders in their division.
“It’s been great, and maybe a little unexpected, but we are top of the league by a distance,” said the youngster.
“We’ve put in a lot of hard work. Craig Liddle has come in to take over the U18s after Paul Jenkins moved up to the U21s. He’s quite strict on what he wants, but it’s been working.”
He continued: “I’ve not managed a goal yet this year, but I’ve got quite a few assists.
“I’m hoping I can get a goal out here and add a few more to my game, but I’m just as happy with an assist.
“As a defender, clean sheets are my main priority, but if I can help my team out with an assist then that is a bonus and helps the team.”
Coulson featured for his country in the St. George’s Park Tournament and First Round Euro qualifiers, but missed out on the last meet up through injury when the squad travelled to Florida in November.
But with three tough tests this week against Holland, Portugal and Germany, he is looking to impress Peacock enough to be involved in next month’s European Championship Elite Round qualifiers.
“I missed the Florida Tournament with an ankle injury. It was gutting, it’s a big tournament that I really wanted to go to but it’s good to be back now,” he said.
“To miss out on the games out there, against top teams such as Brazil, it would have been a great experience and it was a shame to miss it.
“I was following all the action from back home, and the lads did well, but obviously I wish I had been there.”
He continued: “But now we’ve got some tough opposition out here. This will be just as good experience coming up against these sides.
“I’ve played against Portugal before at the St. George’s Park tournament, so I’ve seen how good they are, but we all really want to impress and give a good showing.
“This week is a good chance to show what I can do and hopefully get selected for the Elites.”
England face Holland on Wednesday (3.30pm kick-off).
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