Kevin Davies has admitted he thought he was the subject of a prank call when the Bolton striker was given his belated England call on Monday.
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The 33-year-old was named in Fabio Capello's squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley next Tuesday, just a week after saying that he had all but given up hope of representing his country.
Injuries to the likes of
Jermain Defoe,
Bobby Zamora and
Gabriel Agbonlahor have seen the Bolton forward handed a chance by Capello, but the former Chesterfield, Blackburn and Southampton player wants to become a regular fixture in the national squad.
Davies told
BBC Five Live: "I have been dreaming of it since I was a little boy. In the summer I was in the supermarket getting stuff to decorate the house for the World Cup and now to be a part of it is just amazing. I want to go down there and make an impression and show what I am all about. Hopefully I can be involved on Tuesday and get some more caps."
"I think now I am in the squad it's an opportunity for me," he said. "The last few years I have played 250 games for Bolton, I have not missed many games and I feel good. If I get a cap I would hope to get in the next squad."
He described the circumstances of that fateful phonecall: "I was just at home with the wife and kids. It has been one of them days and it took time to settle in but now it has I am very proud. I couldn't believe it to be honest. I thought it was a wind-up. I'm really excited about it and it is an opportunity I didn't think was going to come my way."
Davies has maintained consistent form for Bolton in the last few years, and remains the Lancastrians' key player but the player feels that not being a prolific goalscorer has counted against him.
"I think if anything has let me down it's been the number of goals I have scored," he said. "I am not prolific but I have other things in my game and a lot of players that have played with me have done well and it shows I am a good team player, and in terms of a lack of goals I have been pretty steady along the years."
Davies also admitted that the more attractive style of play being utilised by Bolton under Owen Coyle, compared to the more direct style employed under Gary Megson and Sam Allardyce, has aided his cause.
He said: "We are playing better football although we have not won as many games as we would like. But we are playing some good stuff on the carpet and if we need to we can go the other way as well to Johan (Elmander), who has come in and scored some vital goals for us.
"I was hoping (Bolton team-mate)
Gary Cahill would be involved but straight away he text me saying good luck and I told him he will get many more caps over the coming years."
Davies added on his club's website that he was feeling the nerves.
"I just have to go along and enjoy the experience of being involved with the international team and if I get the chance to play I will do my best to impress. It is a really proud moment for me and my family. I am sure there will be a few nerves over the next couple of days and it hasn't really sunk in yet, but I am looking forward to this opportunity and I'm going to give it my best shot.''
Coyle said Davies fully deserved his call-up and backed the veteran to impress Capello.
"He has got his rewards for the high level of performances that he has produced, week in, week out,'' said Coyle. "He works exceptionally hard on a day-to-day basis and I am sure he will give Mr Capello absolutely 100%.''
