Still harbors hope for England call up
It is an episode that Demarai Gray has not discussed before and hopes to never experience again.
Once among the brightest English prospects of his generation and a Premier League champion with Leicester City, Gray found himself alone in a German hotel room during the COVID-19 pandemic — trying to comprehend how things had come to this and, disturbingly, questioning his existence.
Beating Palace and drawing at Fulham puts Everton 12th in the table approaching the World Cup break, with Gray statistically their leading attacking ball carrier and one of the league’s best.
He’s cemented his place in the line-up — “this is the best I’ve felt in my career” — and although Gray will spend the Qatar tournament watching, resting and training ahead of the domestic resumption, international honours remain an aim; be it with England or potentially Jamaica.
“That’s another thing I struggled with,” he says. “Growing up, I was so rated. I probably would have said, ‘Ah, 26, yeah, England senior, No 11’. Everyone was saying this and that. It hasn’t gone that way but do I believe I can still reach those heights? Yes. That will always be an ambition I set.
“Do I think I’m good enough to play for England? Yes. I had a call-up — I didn’t play but I’ve had a small taste of it. I’d love nothing more than to be in the mix, however long it takes.”
Considering the bigger obstacles Gray appears to have navigated, you would hardly be surprised if that vision materialised and, regardless, the mere fact he ponders it is indicative of his progress.
Once among the brightest English prospects of his generation and a Premier League champion with Leicester City, Gray found himself alone in a German hotel room during the COVID-19 pandemic — trying to comprehend how things had come to this and, disturbingly, questioning his existence.
Beating Palace and drawing at Fulham puts Everton 12th in the table approaching the World Cup break, with Gray statistically their leading attacking ball carrier and one of the league’s best.
He’s cemented his place in the line-up — “this is the best I’ve felt in my career” — and although Gray will spend the Qatar tournament watching, resting and training ahead of the domestic resumption, international honours remain an aim; be it with England or potentially Jamaica.
“That’s another thing I struggled with,” he says. “Growing up, I was so rated. I probably would have said, ‘Ah, 26, yeah, England senior, No 11’. Everyone was saying this and that. It hasn’t gone that way but do I believe I can still reach those heights? Yes. That will always be an ambition I set.
“Do I think I’m good enough to play for England? Yes. I had a call-up — I didn’t play but I’ve had a small taste of it. I’d love nothing more than to be in the mix, however long it takes.”
Considering the bigger obstacles Gray appears to have navigated, you would hardly be surprised if that vision materialised and, regardless, the mere fact he ponders it is indicative of his progress.
