On-loan Rochdale defender Jack O’Connell hopes to emulate his hero Jamie Carragher and play for England one day.
A scouser and huge Liverpool FC fan, the centre-back was quick to name former reds defensive stalwart Carragher as the defender he aspired to be like when asked by MM.
O’Connell has already captained England under 19’s and is full of optimism regarding his career prospects.
“I’m still only 19 so I’m still learning, hopefully I can get a call up to the under 21’s in the future and maybe the seniors after that,” O’Connell told MM.
“Playing for England under 19’s was good it’s different to league football because you get more time on the ball, especially as a defender. There’s a lot of emphasis on keeping the ball in international football.
“So it’s different to league football but it’s good.”
Should O’Connell go on to play for the Three Lions he will follow in the footsteps of former Dale striker Rickie Lambert, who has since played and scored for England since leaving Spotland in 2006.
The 19-year-old has impressed since joining on loan from Blackburn Rovers in July 2013, making 28 appearances helping Dale keep nine clean sheets in the process.
He played in Saturday’s 3-0 away win over Hartlepool, a result which moved Dale into fourth in League Two and put them within a point of the automatic promotion places.
O’Connell, on-loan until the end of the season, told MM last week that he believed Dale can win League Two and if this target is achieved he did not rule out extending his stay at Spotland further.
“I wouldn’t like to stay in League Two for the rest of my career but if Rochdale get promoted I don’t see why I couldn’t stay here,” he said.
Image courtesy of Rochdale AFC, with thanks.
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