Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon is unfazed by the talk of him representing the England national side during this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia. The 17-year-old has stood out for the Cottagers during the course of the current season, and this recently saw him named the EFL Player of the Year at the London Football Awards.

Despite Sessegnon’s prowess, he has yet to earn his maiden cap with the Gareth Southgate’s side, but he remains hopeful of making the cut for the World Cup, just like compatriots Theo Walcott and Michael Owen in the past, he said: “Who knows? Theo Walcott did it, Michael Owen did it so I could be ready. If I did get the call, it would be a fantastic achievement. I’ll be ready if I get the call. If I don’t, I’ll be cheering them on the TV hoping they do well. It is nice for the gaffer to say that about me. Who knows? Hopefully it will happen.”

In fact, Walcott had not made a Premier League appearance for Arsenal prior to representing the Three Lions at the 2006 World Cup. The former Southampton graduate had notched only 13 appearances in his professional career, but the overall potential of the player was sufficient for Sven-Göran Eriksson to pick him for the global tournament in Germany.

Sessegnon started the season in his regular left-back position, but as the season has gone on, Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has realised the teenager’s potential and decided to play him on the left-wing, from where he has contributed eight goals in 2018. One player who comes into mind with such development is Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford prior to Euro 2016, but the then-teenager could not earn a starting spot, which may be the case with Sessegnon, if picked.