Chelsea boy Reece James has been reunited with an old acquaintance in the England training camp as Emile Smith-Rowe has been added to the Three Lions setup. The two 21-year-old starlets met 11 years ago when Emile came to Chelsea for a trial with the Blues, the club that had already featured a young Reece.The strong defender remembered those days.”I’ve always known Emile is a top player. He came to Chelsea when he was quite young, actually, on trial. I remember playing with him and playing against him. Even when he moved to Arsenal, I always knew he was a top player and I think this season he’s shown how good he is and why he’s been selected.”The future of English football (©Gallo Images)Now they are training together with the national team and hoping to be given a nod by Gareth Southgate.Smith-Rowe doesn’t dwell too much about his failed Chelsea trial because it all turned out alright. He was picked up by Arsenal, the club he’d supported as a boy.”I grew up in an area that should be more Crystal Palace than anything else, but I was an Arsenal fan. I trialled at Chelsea and didn’t get in. Something about me not being big enough, I’ve heard. But Arsenal found out and picked me up. They were flexible, too. They knew I lived far away and told me to come in when I could. Tottenham showed interest but I stood by Arsenal. They’re my club.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by England football team (@england) Smith Rowe has scored 12 goals and registered nine assists in 58 appearances since joining Arsenal aged 10. He could make his England debut when England face Albania and San Marino. Not bad for the player that was once discarded far too easily.WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS – EUROPEGroup IFriday22.45: (1.15) England (9.00) Albania (22.0)22.45: (1.01) Hungary (30.0) San Marino (70.0)22.45: (35.0) Andorra (14.0) Poland (1.08)***odds are subject to change
