JACK TARGETS ENGLAND TAKE-OFF

JACK HARRISON forked out $1,500 to get to England Under-21 duty on time after missing his flight. The New York City kid’s career has taken off after being a surprise call up for Aidy Boothroyd’s European Championship squad. But he almost did not make it after dashing from a game in Chicago, back to Manhattan, where traffic delayed his departure on Sunday night.

He quit Manchester United aged 14 – where he played alongside Marcus Rashford – for a “more balanced” education at a US boarding school, and showed initiative when his England dream looked in jeopardy. Harrison (left) admitted: “I missed the flight. I tried to contact someone at the FA, but it was in the middle of the night.

“I booked the first flight out on Monday morning. I left New York at 8am and got here at 10.30pm on Monday night. It was $1,500 (£1,130) to fly to Heathrow. Then I hired a car to get to St George’s Park. I just had to be here.”

The 20-year-old now earns $130,000 (£98,000) a year and is an increasingly influential player in the MLS.

He is mentored by team mate and Spanish star David Villa, who calls him ‘Goldenboy’. He added: “I came back from injury last year with a few goals and assists. Everyone then started calling me ‘Goldenboy’ and David Villa put it out on Twitter.”

He is now hoping for an England debut against Scotland tomorrow at Middlesbrough.