Dunk and Gross on their international call-ups

Lewis Dunk will be hoping to add to his one England cap, while Pascal Gross will be looking to make his international debut for Germany.

Nick Szczepanik

2023-09-05T06:00:00Z

Lewis Dunk has one England cap to his name, which came in a 3-0 win over the USA.

Two of Albion’s senior players had only a little time to enjoy the 3-1 victory over Newcastle United before turning their attention to new challenges.

Lewis Dunk was due to join up with England for the first time since November 2018, while Pascal Gross was travelling to Germany after his first call-up to his national side.

Dunky was recalled to the Three Lions squad in May this year but was unable to report for duty because of injury.

But England boss Gareth Southgate kept the Albion skipper in his plans for the forthcoming matches against Ukraine in Wrocław, and Scotland at Hampden Park.

“I’m buzzing to be meeting back up with the squad after a long, long time,” he said. “Obviously when I had to pull out in the summer it was frustrating. I waited a long time to get back in there, and when I got a chance injury ruled me out.

Lewis Dunk has one England cap to his name, which came in a 3-0 win over the USA.

“But I needed to get back fit. I’ve managed to do that, worked myself back in. So I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully I can get some game time.”

The match against Ukraine in Poland on Thursday is a qualifier for Euro 2024 but Lewis is not looking ahead as far as the finals in Germany next summer.

“I’ll do what I always do, which is focus on myself, go there, show what I’m about, try and impress the manager as much as I can and see what I can do," he said.

“Hopefully I’ll be at the Euros in the summer and represent England there. I’ve just got to focus on what I do on the training pitch and on the field.”

His attitude during his five-year spell out of the international picture was similar.

“I just focused on doing what I can do at this football club, and if I get called I’ll be there,” he said.

“Everyone dreams of playing for England. I’ve got myself back in the squad so it’s up to me to stay there.”

Lewis Dunk and Pascal Gross have been key players in the team since our promotion to the Premier League.

Leading Albion into Europe and being in the England squad would have seemed equally unlikely when he made his debut in a 0-0 draw away to MK Dons in League One back in May 2010.

“Definitely. A lot of players have been through the England system; I was only in one under-21 squad. It’s a different path to a lot of the boys there.

“But everyone’s got a unique journey. This is my journey, and I’m enjoying it — and it’s got a long way to go.”

Pascal’s consistent excellence at Premier League level since joining Albion in 2017 finally brought recognition from Germany manager Hansi Flick last week for home friendlies against Japan and France.

“I am really happy,” he said. “It is a proud moment for me. For every footballer it is an honour to play for their country. It is the first time for me travelling there and I am really proud.

“It means a lot. Every German kid is the same as an English boy here. If he plays football, his dream is to play for his country. It is the same for me, so I am really looking forward to it.

“The manager called me to tell me that I’m in the squad and I told my parents, my wife, my little boy. At a lot of games they support me.”

At 32, Pascal might have been forgiven for thinking that the call might never come, but he had put it to the back of his mind while concentrating on his Albion career.

“I don't think about that, I think about stuff I can affect,” he said. “I try to train hard and well every day and play really well for my club and that is the most important thing.”