Spence Hopes To Inspire As First Muslim England Player

Djed Spence hopes to animate early generations if he becomes nan first Muslim subordinate to correspond nan elder England men's team.

The Tottenham full-back, who has six caps for England Under-21s, has been included successful nan elder squad for nan first clip for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.

It marks a turnaround successful fortunes for nan erstwhile Middlesbrough player, who was sent retired connected indebtedness 3 times by Spurs - to Rennes, Leeds and Genoa - earlier establishing himself successful nan first squad past season.

Although nan Football Association does not support a grounds of a player's religion, it is understood Spence could go nan first Muslim man to play for nan England team.

"It's a blessing - it's conscionable amazing. I don't person nan words really," said nan 25-year-old.

"I believe a lot, I springiness gratitude to God. In nan toughest moments of my life, nan darkest moments, I've ever believed that God has ever been by my side. It's a large point for me, my faith."

Spence says he does not consciousness immoderate further weight connected his shoulders because of his belief but hopes his communicative tin assistance others.

"I don't really consciousness nan unit for definite things. I conscionable play shot pinch a grin connected my face, beryllium happy, and nan remainder will return attraction of yourself," he added.

"If I tin do it, you tin do it. Not conscionable Muslim kids, immoderate kid of immoderate faith. Put your mind to thing and you tin do it."

Before 15 December past year, Spence had played conscionable 64 minutes of Premier League shot successful nan 2024-25 season.

After that date, he completed 90 minutes successful 19 of Spurs' consequent 22 convention games.

The translator was stark. Spence was truthful acold down past Spurs leader Ange Postecoglou's pecking bid he was not moreover included successful nan squad for nan Europa League group stage.

He only came successful for nan knockout shape but played 180 minutes of nan last-16 triumph against AZ Alkmaar.

He was past introduced arsenic a substitute arsenic Spurs hit Manchester United successful nan last for their first awesome trophy successful 17 years, qualifying for nan Champions League successful nan process.

Such was his advancement past season, location was talk of Spence featuring successful Thomas Tuchel's first England squad past March.

Spence missed out, pinch Arsenal teen Myles Lewis-Skelly called up arsenic nan caller left-back look instead, contempt nan Spurs man making much Premier League tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks and protect headers astatine that constituent successful nan campaign.

But Spence stayed successful nan picture, and aft playing each infinitesimal for Spurs successful nan caller Premier League play to day he has sewage his call-up to nan elder squad.

"It's decidedly a large woody to play for England, 100%," Spence said.

"The head has made maine consciousness comfortable, everyone present has made maine comfortable. Also I've played astatine under-21s, truthful I cognize a spot more. But elder level, I haven't done it before. The boys person made maine consciousness invited and taken maine in."

He was fixed his England Under-21 debut by Lee Carsley successful March 2022 against Albania.

Carsley wanted to return Spence to nan European Under-21 Championship successful 2023, wherever England triumphed by beating Spain successful nan final, but wounded ruled nan defender retired of nan tournament.

To Carsley, Spence's emergence to prominence is nary surprise.

"I emotion Djed. I deliberation he's specified a bully player," Carsley told BBC Sport earlier this year. "So exciting, truthful attacking, athletic, a quiet feline but humble.

"He's sewage truthful galore attributes, nan measurement he tin thrust and dribble pinch nan ball, score, create, defend. He's a subordinate that there's nary ceiling wherever he could go."