'Always my dream' - Brighton and Hove Albion keeper Jason Steele on England call-up

Head coach Thomas Tuchel named the 35-year-old as one of five goalkeepers for games against Uruguay and Japan at Wembley Stadium.

Despite featuring at youth level, this is Steele’s first senior call-up for the Three Lions.

Speaking to the media after the Seagulls beat Liverpool 2-1 at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday, he said: “It was always my dream to represent my country. [I was] very fortunate enough to have done it probably from every age from when I was 15 until 21.

“[I was] very privileged to have done that and very proud of it. Obviously, this is a proud moment for me and my family as well.”

Steele remarked on the long gap between his time in the youth set-up and his selection last week, recalling fond memories made with Seagulls’ teammate Danny Welbeck who scored twice in Saturday’s win but was a notable omission from Tuchel’s squad.

He said: “That's usually the programme - preparing you for those occasions. [It has] come a little bit later than I'd have liked.

“I had a lot of good times, especially with Welbs. It's something we laugh and joke about now. We spent a lot of time together as kids. We were very close. I'm so happy for him today.”

The Seagulls’ keeper revealed he received the confirmation on Friday morning but was yet to speak to Tuchel.

He said: “I'm really looking forward to meeting him, meeting everyone, meeting all the staff [and] all the players. Looking forward to going there and getting to work straight away.

“Nothing changed for me. Obviously, to get a message like that was a privilege, but nothing changed in my mindset.

“I was fully focused on helping my club as best as I can prepare for the two Premier League games.”

He added: “I'm just going to go there full of energy, full of belief, ready to help as best as I can and prepare for a massive summer.”

There has been a lot of noise created by Steele’s inclusion in the squad – an element of modern-day football that the 35-year-old steers clear of.

“I'm not on any social media,” he said. “I like to stay away from all that and focus on my job which up until today has been helping us climb the table, and we've done that over the last few weeks.”

The keeper’s inclusion in the squad has shocked many due to his lack of game time this season and his advancing years.

Steele said: “It's a nice journey, I think. It's one of perseverance, effort, sacrifice. At 35, I still enjoy throwing myself on the ground every single day and giving my all for this football club. Ultimately, it pays off - hard work.”

He added: “I go to work every day to try my hardest, to work hard, to help everyone around me get better. That's all I try and do every day, to help myself get better. I'm still motivated to improve every single day I go out on the pitch.

“I'm motivated to improve off the pitch. My gym work, at 35 - I love it, love the sacrifice, love the hard work.

“The minute I don't, it'll be the minute I stop playing football. I just want to go there and show what I'm about.”