Blackburn Rovers star Warnock is happy to cancel his hols

10:23am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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ROVERS defender Stephen Warnock has revealed he was looking forward to some rest and relaxation when the Premier League season finished.

But the 26-year-old left-back admitted he had no hesitation in cancelling his summer holiday after receiving a call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad for the friendlies against the USA and Trinidad and Tobago later this month.

Warnock has been in top form for Rovers this season and he won the club's "unsung hero" award at the recent presentation evening.

But he confessed the England call came as something of a surprise.

He said: "I'm more shocked than anything.

"It's a bit of a surprise because I wasn't expecting it. I'd booked holidays fully expecting to have a bit of a break.

"I actually got a phone call from Bents (David Bentley) on the way home from Birmingham saying cancel your holidays you're going away with the England squad'. So that was the first I heard of it."

Despite having made relatively few first team appearances for his previous club Liverpool, Warnock was called into Sven Goran Eriksson's England squad for the first time in August 2005, due to lack of cover in the squad at left-back. However, he has yet to make an appearance for England.

But he revealed he never gave up on playing for his country after his move to Ewood Park.

He added: "I knew that if I came to Blackburn and played week-in, week-out, I'd give myself a chance. That's turned out to be the right decision.

"I must be doing something right, but I just hope it's enough to earn a start and try to show him (Capello) what I can do."

Rovers chairman John Williams hailed his call-up and felt it was long overdue.

He said: "It's great news and it's well deserved. We've now got two players in the squad and that's brilliant for the club.

"I remember saying about a year ago that he must be due a call-up and I know that Mark Hughes has continued to support the player as you would expect."