Wednesday 23 March 2016 16:58, UK
Danny Drinkwater insists he is ready to take his club form onto the international stage and make a late push for a place in England’s Euro 2016 squad.
The midfielder has been a reliable presence in the heart of Leicester's table-topping team this season, and believes he can make the necessary adjustments to adapt to international football in time for this summer's tournament in France.
"I've been given a small chance here to show what I'm capable of, so it is up to me to take it," Drinkwater told the media at a press conference at St George's Park, having taken part in his first training session with the England senior team.
"Obviously international football is different, I understand that, but it's just about doing your job, screening the defence, and as the ball turns over you've got to keep it. I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Respectfully acknowledging the competition for places in central midfield, with the likes of Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson and others all pushing for a place in the side, Drinkwater added: "I don't think England have ever been short of quality in midfield, or anywhere else on the pitch for that matter, but having competition for places always helps. Push yourself, and it can only benefit the country."
Drinkwater's call up to the national team for the fixtures with Germany on Saturday and the Netherlands on Tuesday has capped a remarkable 12 months for the midfielder.
This time last year he was not even a permanent fixture for his club, battling to find a place in a position dominated by the presence of Esteban Cambiasso, and also saw Matty James ahead of him in the pecking order.
This season his form - alongside N'Golo Kane - has been a major contributing factor in Leicester's push for the Premier League title, and rightly caught the eye of England manager Roy Hodgson.
Asked if his England call-up was 'the icing on the cake' after Leicester's incredible season, Drinkwater kept an important sense of perspective, with seven Premier League games remaining in which the title will be decided: "There is a long way to go yet, so I don't think the cake is baked yet!"
Drinkwater was flanked at the press conference by his club team-mate Vardy - it is rare for two players to attend England press conferences together but the midfielder apparently felt more comfortable with a familiar face alongside him - and naturally, the subject of Leicester's Premier League chances arose on more than one occasion.
It seemed as though both were enjoying the opportunity to take their minds off the pressure of the title race.
"My concentration now is England, and it will be now until the game has finished on Tuesday," Drinkwater insisted. "Everything back at Leicester is good, we've left it in a good place, and for now we'll focus on the Three Lions."
England is all the focus we can have. After next Tuesday is finished, then we'll go back to thinking about Leicester.
Vardy echoed the point: "It's been unbelievable obviously, but in all fairness we do talk about this every week. It's not going to be hard at all [to focus on England this week], that's what we are here to do.
"England is all the focus we can have. After next Tuesday is finished, then we'll go back to thinking about Leicester.
"We understand people are going to ask about it when we are with our clubs, we are doing well at the top and we know people are going to keep asking - that's not a pressure, it's something you can't get away from.
"It's just nice to have a week away and focus on England."
While Vardy is more accustomed to England duty than Drinkwater, he is still a relative novice at this level, having received his first call up to the national team last June.
Despite the fact he has scored 19 Premier League goals this season, he is still not taking his place in the England squad for granted.
"I think I've always got something to prove," Vardy admitted, when asked of the competition for places provided by Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Daniel Sturridge, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck.
"There's quality throughout the team, and it's down to each individual to put themselves in the gaffer's mind, and see who he picks for the games.
"You've always got to feel confident, it doesn't matter what position you're in, if you're picked for the squad you're in there for a reason, for the job you've been doing during the season, so I've just got to keep doing that and keep working as hard as I can.
"It's going to be difficult for everyone, but having the competition that we have got, it can only benefit us and make us even better going forward. We'll have to see how things go on the training pitch and when the gaffer picks the team it's up to them to keep the shirts."
