Jamie Vardy: England call-up 'doesn't feel real'

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy says his call-up to the England squad "doesn't feel real".

The 28-year-old was included in the England squad for the first time last month and may make his debut against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.

It caps a rapid rise for the Leicester player, who just six years ago was playing in the eighth tier of English football with Stocksbridge Park Steels.

"I had to pinch myself most days before I even got here," said Vardy.

"It doesn't feel real. But there's been a lot of hard work put into it. I've been given the chance now and hopefully I can take it."

Released by Sheffield Wednesday as a 16-year-old, Vardy almost gave up playing before resuming his career at non-league level, which he combined with working as a carbon-fibre technician.

"My job involved making splints for disabled people with drop-foot," explained Vardy, who scored five goals for Leicester last season.

"We had to do a lot of lifting into hot ovens. We were lifting things hundreds of times a day and it was damaging my back."

During this time, Vardy was convicted of assault on a night out and was forced to wear an electronic tag, which created a problem for his football career.

"If the away games were too far I could only play for an hour," he said. "It was a case of hope that we were winning, take me off and I'd get straight in the car to make sure I was home in time. That was for six months."

Vardy recalls that playing with the tag did have its advantages, though.

Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin scored five and 18 goals respectively last season

"You could wear it like an ankle guard," added Vardy. "It would protect your ankles. There was no way of breaking it so you were fine."

Vardy is joined in the England squad for the friendly against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday and the Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia a week later by QPR forward Charlie Austin, another player who has risen from non-league football to receive a national call-up.

Six years ago, Austin - who was released by Reading as a 15-year-old - was turning out for part-timers Poole Town in the Wessex League and working as a bricklayer.

The 25-year-old scored 18 goals for QPR last season and a goal in England colours will make one group of Poole fans - who informed him before he left the club that they had placed a £155 bet at 50-1 on him scoring for his country - very happy.

"When they first placed the bet I said: 'Look, I think you're mad'," said Austin. "They're delighted for me to be called up and for their bet to have legs."