00:01Everton's Jared Brantthwaite says his return to the England squad means everything to him
00:06after a difficult period dealing with injuries. The Everton defender has worked his way back
00:14into Thomas Tuchel's set-up after a series of hamstring problems disrupted his progress
00:21and kept him out of the World Cup squad. Brantthwaite has made a strong start to the season
00:27and believes the work he completed during his rehabilitation has put him in a better position
00:34than ever to stay fit and contribute for both club and country. He described receiving the England
00:41call-up as a proud moment for himself and his family and said the hard work required to get
00:48back to this point had made it worthwhile. The centre-back also stressed the importance
00:56of representing England for him, calling it a privilege and a pleasure and he insisted
01:02that players remain fully committed to playing for their country after the World Cup disappointment.
01:10Brantthwaite spoke to the press, here is what he had to say.
01:14Yeah, definitely. I think, like you said, when I went off with the injury, I was, you know,
01:18devastated after the amount of times I've, you know, came back from it and then for it to happen again.
01:24So, I think, like you said, to be called up back to the England squad means everything for me
01:29and I think all the hard work that's went in the rehab and to get back to this point,
01:33it makes it worthwhile and I'm just buzzing to be back in England.
01:37I mean, you've done it before, but is it still very special to pull on that England shirt?
01:41Yeah, 100%. Every time, you know, you see your name on the list, it's a pleasure and, you know,
01:46I'm thankful I get this opportunity to play for England.
01:50And, like I said, all the hard work that went in through them, rehab and throughout the season,
01:55to get me to this point, it's been worthwhile.
01:58I assumed you watched the World Cup, along with the rest of us.
02:01Some magnificent performances and some great highs and, you know, one particular huge low as well.
02:06What did you make of, you know, the winning in the Azteca in Mexico, which was extraordinary,
02:11never say anything like it, and then that semi-final defeat against Argentina.
02:14As a viewer, what was the overall impression?
02:17Yeah, I think, you know, looking from the outside, the lad's done an unbelievable job.
02:22I think when you talk about the Mexico win and the result there,
02:28and then obviously with football you get highs and you get lows,
02:32and obviously to come off on the wrong side of the result with Argentina,
02:36it was obviously a big low for the team, but I think, you know,
02:39the way they performed and, you know, the circumstances they came up against,
02:44they've done an unbelievable job.
02:46So, yeah, praise to them.
02:48Give yourself the best possible chance to be in the squad and in the team for the future.
02:52So, I think, you know, that starts with every training session,
02:54every chance you get to step on the pitch to show the best account of yourself,
02:58and hopefully I can do that.
