Ambitious Gray targeting England call-up

Andre Gray has not yet kicked a Premier League ball in anger but the Burnley hotshot says he has every reason to believe he can end his season with an England cap to his name.

Gray was set the task of firing Burnley back into the top flight at the first time of asking after Sean Dyche shelled out a club record – thought to be £9million – this time last summer.

What followed was 23 goals and most importantly promotion, as Gray knocked off another landmark since leaving non-league football and Luton Town two years ago.

And, with England also about to embark on a new era with Sam Allardyce, there is no limit to Gray’s ambition this year.

“No dream is too big. I’ve dreamt of playing in the Premier League since I signed for Luton, now I am here three, four years later,” said the 25-year-old.

“Why not? I am going to work hard and there’s always something to aim for. The day you stop dreaming and aspiring for something is the day you’ll stop progressing. I am not going to stop until I reach my goals.”

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

The comparisons may be inevitable but Gray admits he need only look to Jamie Vardy – who completed his own non-league transformation by starring for Leicester City and England in 2015/16.

“You can’t avoid what he has done, it’s there to see. You can see what is possible and he has done that at a later age,” he added.

“I still feel I have time to go on and achieve half of what he has done. So it’s inspiring and you have to look up to it, especially coming from where I’ve come, he’s come from the same background.”