Conor Coady has dismissed claims that international players will be distracted during the final Premier League weekend before the World Cup.
The centre-back told talkSPORT giving everything for Everton was ‘the most important thing’ despite the impending trip to Qatar.
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Coady couldn’t hide his excitement after being called up for the World Cup in Qatar
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The Everton defender was part of Southgate’s 26-man squad
The defender has been named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for the tournament, which starts on November 20.
Of course, there’s the small matter of a final round of Premier League fixtures this weekend that players need to think about before that.
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale admitted to talkSPORT after his call to the England squad that it would be ‘difficult’ to concentrate, with the Three Lions due to meet again on Monday morning immediately after the league stoppage .
“That’s the hard part – obviously we had such a level today that we were told you were in the squad, but now we have to focus on Saturday,” he told Drive time.
“Obviously we want to win the game, and hopefully we’ll be ahead before the break, but the next thing will be to meet on Monday morning and then fly to Qatar on Tuesday.
“So with this kind of break, there’s not a lot of time to prepare for the first game, so I think everything is fine as soon as we get together on Monday morning.”
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Ramsdale has admitted he may struggle to concentrate in the final round of Premier League fixtures ahead of the World Cup
However, Coady insisted he would not be thinking about Qatar until the end of the weekend, with Everton facing a crucial clash with Bournemouth as 16th-17th at the Vitality Stadium.
He told talkSPORT Breakfast: “That’s why we play football.
“I play for Everton Football Club and I give my best every day for the football club and the most important thing for me, and all the other players in the England team will say the same, that the most important thing at the moment are the games this weekend.
“I think it’s a huge game, a huge game for us. We’ve been talking about it all week and there’s no way we can go into this game thinking about anything else and performing well against Bournemouth and get a result.
“If someone tells you something different I don’t think that’s the right way to look at it because the most important thing is a massive game tomorrow and then we can look forward to what’s to come. .”
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The defender has been a key player since joining Everton in the summer
Receiving the news of a World Cup call-up is one of the greatest joys a player can experience and, according to the 29-year-old, it is one of the best messages he has ever received .
“We train at 11am so when I arrived I got a text on my phone from one of the FA girls who look after the squad saying I had been selected,” Coady revealed .
“I wrote back saying it was the best message I had ever received!
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As World Cup looms, Coady says he remains focused on the Premier League for now
“It was a moment where you walk in and you have a huge smile on your face and it’s so, so exciting.
“I think it’s exciting for everyone, including yourselves, the fans and especially for us.”
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