Liam Moore admits he thought it was a wind-up when he found out he had been called up to the England under-21 squad.
The Leicester City defender found out he had been selected by manager Stuart Pearce for Tuesday night's friendly against Northern Ireland via Twitter and could not believe it when he checked the FA website and it was confirmed.
He went on to win his first cap as a second-half substitute as England claimed victory at Blackpool, watched by his proud family.
Moore, who came through the ranks at City, wants it to be the first of many international caps.
"It has been an amazing week, the best of my career," said the 19-year-old.
"There is no bigger thrill than to pull on that England shirt, the same thrill as when I pull on a Leicester shirt. I am thankful for both.
"When I saw it on Twitter, I thought it was a wind-up and I had to check it on the official FA website to confirm it.
"You always think there is hope and, when you look at a squad, you think you could fit in there, but for me to actually get a call-up – it is massive.
"The manager picks who he thinks can do a job out of the whole of England. That is amazing to think.
"I was itching to get on and, when I did, it was nice. The ball took an age to go out but, when I finally got on, it was a great feeling."
Moore has had an amazing year. He made his full debut for City after the return of manager Nigel Pearson last season and has been a constant in the first-team squad, but he is not about to rest on his laurels. His family would not allow that anyway, he says.
"It is just the start of my career now," he said.
"I want it to be the start of a rising career, not the peak and it all goes downhill. My family are massive in that. When good things happen they will celebrate it with me, like my call-up, but they are never over the top.
"It is always a case of 'well, you've done that now, what's next?'
"My family all came to watch the game and afterwards I went up to see them all in the players' lounge. They were a bit more shocked than me, I was all cool about it.
"When I spoke to my mum on the phone, she said she had to go because she was feeling weird and then she was in tears.
"I am only 19 and the under-21s have already qualified for next year's Euro championship, but the campaign after that will be more my age group."
