CHELMSFORD: Jimmy gets the England call-up

HE'S come a long way since his days as a young lad roaming the streets of Chelmsford.

Now Essex boy Jimmy Bullard is preparing to represent his country at international level for the first time thanks to his surprise call up to the England football team to play Andorra and Croatia in two World Cup qualifiers this month.

In a career spanning more than 10 years, the 29-year-old has starred in five senior clubs and his shock inclusion England 23-man squad caps a remarkable story for the Chelmsfordian who worked his way up through the lower leagues and suffered a career-threatening knee injury in September 2006, returned to action in January this year.

Admitting he nearly hung up his boots as a result of the injury, the former Gravesend & Northfleet, West Ham, Peterborough United, and Wigan Athletic player described his call-up as "a dream come true, a great honour and a bit surreal."

The first of the two qualifying games takes place this Saturday in Barcelona, where England take on Andorra, and Bullard said he is ready for the challenge.

"I'm not daunted or nervous. I'm most comfortable when I'm on the pitch playing football and I'll answer all the questions when I'm called upon.

"I've always had the belief and I owe my dad a lot for that. He always said, 'always play your best, you never know who's watching'."

Sound advice indeed, and I'm sure the entire county, nay country, will voice their support if the creative and industrious midfield man makes his bow this weekend.