Danny Ings expected to spend the week fishing but now he'll be with the England squad

Danny Ings celebrates after scoring in the Merseyside Derby

DANNY INGS expected to spend this week on a fishing trip around Southampton with his dad. Instead, he will settle for catching the eye of England coach Roy Hodgson.

 

For all the drama and uncertainty Ings has left behind at Liverpool after the dismissal of Brendan Rodgers, and the pursuit of Jurgen Klopp, the striker’s personal fortunes continue to follow a smoother path.

Ings’ elevation to Hodgson’s senior squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers with Estonia and Lithuania serves as recognition of a start to the season in which he has risen up the pecking order at Anfield and quickly made his impression felt.

His first Premier League goal for Liverpool in Sunday’s Merseyside derby stalemate with Everton was overlooked amid the fall-out from Rodgers’ post-match dismissal.

 

Yet Ings, his confidence imbued, is now targeting reeling in more striking rivals ahead of next summer’s finals in France after putting away his rod and tackle.

“I didn’t expect the call up whatsoever and that was the best part about it,” said Ings. “I was planning on visiting family back home, but this is another massive moment in my career and another marginal gain.

“Things like this give me great confidence moving forward. It is something I am going to build on, go there and enjoy it with top, top players.

 

“It was just a text from one of the secretaries at The FA. They sent a group text out. I didn’t expect it at all, so it was a huge moment for me. It is every boy’s dream and now that I have got the call, I want to build on it and progress again.

“There have been different stepping stones along the way and it has been great. Every time I get that next bit higher, I work that little bit harder to get the next one. That has always been my mentality.

“It is difficult (Euro 2016) but that is what you go for. It is an opportunity. I have got that call and I now need to improve every day to be around it, for as long as I can.”

Hodgson has tracked Ings for some time, but his involvement in the U21s European Championships last summer meant he was denied the chance to select him earlier.

 

Ings in action for England U21s

The omission of club-mate Daniel Sturridge as he works on his fitness and the continued absence of Danny Welbeck gives Ings a window of opportunity he must jump through.

England are likely to experiment in next Monday’s game against Lithuania on a plastic pitch and should Ings feature it will continue his quick-fire rise.

He made his professional debut six years ago today as a substitute for Bournemouth, but found himself loaned out to Conference South side Dorchester Town in September 2010.

“I have spoken to him (Hodgson) a few times,” said Ings. “He has come over to us after games and had a chat. He seems like a really, really top manager and I can’t wait to work with him and the rest of the staff.

 

“I set myself targets. It is all about me and how I work. If you are in the spotlight, you have to get used to it. When you are doing well, a lot of people will recognise it.

“When you are not doing well, again people will recognise it. It is how you deal with it and control your mentality. I just come in every day and be the best I can be.

“I will always back myself to achieve what I can achieve. It is all down to me. My biggest competition has always been myself, how I develop and how I learn. That is how I have been at any level, whether it was semi-pro at Dorchester Town or here at Liverpool.

“The mentality doesn’t change.”