SWINDON Town goalkeeper Will Henry has spoken of his pride following his ‘shock’ call-up to the England U19s squad.

The 18-year-old was told back in May that he had made the provisional squad for Keith Downing’s side but admitted it still came as a surprise to him to make the 23 following a phone call last Wednesday.

Henry will now travel to Spain on Wednesday as England’s U19 squad carry out their final preparations ahead of the European Championships in Georgia next month and the teenage stopper can’t wait to get started.

“I was in the provisional squad at the start of May, so I had an idea then,” he told the Advertiser.

“I spoke to Eric Steele (FA goalkeeping coach) on Wednesday. He has come and watched me in training a few times and watched my footage from the training camps I have been on and a couple of matches.

“It’s a fantastic honour to represent your country.

“To be picked in an elite squad list is quite an achievement and something I really wouldn’t have expected this early in my career.”

Having only made his debut at the tail end of the 2015-16 campaign, Henry made seven appearances for Town last season as he has played understudy to Lawrence Vigouroux, and he believes his exposure to League One is what helped him clinch his space.

“I have had my fair share of games, which is probably more than most keepers my age, which has probably been the deciding factor really,” he added.

“I have had that exposure to League One football and to have been in that first team environment and to use that as part of my development will only help me to get called up again hopefully.”

Once the squad return from Murcia, where they will be for six days, there will be two further training camps back at St George’s Park before the final England squad is picked for the Euros which begin with a game against Bulgaria on Monday, July 3.

With that in mind, Henry is desperate to prove his worth so that he can make the cut.

“This is my first call-up to the actual squad, so I want to embrace that for the first time and learn as much as I can and take that forward,” he said.

“It’s just a case of proving myself and making sure I get that final spot.

“It would be a fantastic honour to be given that chance and that responsibility to go out and play in a European Championships.”