Bukayo Saka was left speechless after receiving the news of his first England call-up this week, with Alexandre Lacazette having to bring him around.

Bukayo Saka made the England squad list for the first time this week, receiving a call-up along with Arsenal teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Maitland-Niles made his debut over the last break, and Saka will hope to do the same this month.

For the time being, however, Saka’s just enjoying the news that he’s in contention with the senior national side for the first time. He told Sky Sports how it felt when he got the text.

“I turned off aeroplane mode and I’d just seen a text from a woman that I didn’t know until now,” Saka recalled. “And it said ‘we’re happy to confirm that you’ve been selected for the England national team’.

“I literally just froze, I just looked at my phone and I was staring at it for five minutes in shock, so happy. I think I was there for so long that Lacazette just came and slapped me on my head and said ‘come on, we have to get off the plane’.

“As soon as I got off the plane I called my brother, I called my family and everyone was so happy for me.”

It’s always a big moment in a young player’s career when they get the first chance to represent their country.

There are a few different opportunities for Saka to make his international debut. England face Wales, Belgium and Denmark in quick succession, with fixture details as follows (times in BST):

• England vs Wales (friendly) – Thursday, 8th October. 20:00
• England vs Belgium (Nations League) – Sunday, 11th October. 17:00
• England vs Denmark (Nations League) – Wednesday, 14th October. 19:45