Boro skipper Gibson buzzing after England experience

He may not have managed to make his first senior England appearance but Middlesbrough centre-half Ben Gibson admits simply being in and around the international set-up has only fuelled his desire to make it happen in the not too distant future.

Gibson had to quickly cancel any previous weekend plans when he was called up by manager Gareth Southgate on Friday as a late replacement for the injured Chris Smalling.

The centre-back, who already has ten under-21 caps, trained with the squad before being an unused substitute in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Lithuania.

(Photo by Kieran Galvin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The next opportunity to make his England bow will come in June with a double-header against Scotland and France.

And after returning to the Middlesbrough camp this week, the in-form 24-year-old revealed he is desperate for more chances with the Three Lions.

“There’s a lot to take in, and I’ve been pinching myself at times,” said Gibson.

“It’s been a real rollercoaster of emotions, and I’ve loved every single minute of it.

“Hopefully, it’s something I can sample a bit more of in the future. I’d be a fool not to after what I’ve witnessed these last few days so I’m really excited and I’d love to be back here again.

“It was a surprise because it came late in the day, but when I found out I couldn’t get down quick enough and I was absolutely delighted to meet up with the lads.

“The lads have been fantastic, really welcoming. You can tell they’ve got such a good camaraderie and I’m lucky enough to know a few of them from the Under-21 set-up and the staff likewise, so it was a fantastic opportunity and they all made it really easy for me. They were really welcoming and I couldn’t have fitted in any better.”