James Norwood Answers To Duty Calls

JAMES NORWOOD was sat at home playing Call of Duty on Saturday night when he got his International Call of Duty.

The Forest Green Rovers striker was a late replacement along with Luton Town’s Andy Parry for Alfreton’s injured duo Dan Bradley and Bradley Wood.

Norwood is no stranger to the England C set-up having scored a hat-trick from the bench on his debut in Bermuda and started in September’s defeat in Latvia.

While he didn’t make the initial squad, he did enough to impress boss Paul Fairclough for another full 90 minutes.

And the 23-year-old showed ice runs through his veins when he fired in the Three Lions’ stoppage time equaliser from the penalty spot for his fourth goal in three England C games.

“I got a call at half ten on Saturday evening asking me to come down,” Norwood, who also scored from the spot in Bermuda, told The NLP.

“I was playing Call of Duty against the lads so I swiftly put my pyjamas on and got into bed! I was expecting to be on the bench and play a part from there. To start the game and score was fantastic.

“Keanu Marsh-Brown was on penalties but Mick Payne said if he came off I could be on them so I duly obliged.

“You try not to feel the pressure but in the 93rd-minute you’re always going to. It’s a free shot at goal from 12 yards so you’ve got to fancy scoring.

“It was ecstasy when it went in. I was buzzing for the lads because we put so much effort in to get back in the game.

“We came in at half-time and said they are no better than us, the goals were unfortunate but we were working well.

“We got the ball down and played. We’ve got a lot of experienced heads here, players who are the best at their clubs, so we knew we needed to pass and move them about in order to get space and create chances.”

In Bermuda Norwood was sure to grab the No.14 shirt – the same number he wore when he scored for England schoolboys against France at Wembley.

This time it was the No.10, but only after a quick swap with strike partner Andre Gray.

“It’s what I’ve always dreamt of – wearing number 10 for England,” Norwood said. “I originally had the No.9 but I swapped with Andre Gray because he loves nine and my superstition is 10.

“I love Pele and he wore ten – he inspired me to play football. I like being a creator and someone who can change a game.”