There ain’t no manicure for the summertime Blue
CITY STAR DELPH DELIGHTED TO SWAP NAIL-PAINTING WITH DAUGHTERS FOR WORLD CUP ACTION WITH ENGLAND
FABIAN DELPH will have to put the nail-painting and dressing-up on hold this summer, following his England World Cup call-up.
Delph, a father of two girls and with a third child on the way, revealed his summers are usually spent with his daughters painting his nails pink – a far cry from the tough world of football.
But the Manchester City star’s call-up means the child’s play with Sophia and Aleya is on hold while Delph and his England team-mates try to restore the nation’s football credibility in Russia this summer.
“I’ve got two daughters, a baby on the way and Natalie, the missus,” said Delph. “They all hate football. They couldn’t care less.
“My daughters are devastated I’m going to be away. But the missus is buzzing – she did a backflip!
“They’re great and I’d probably prefer it to be like that. I finish a game and, whether I played well or didn’t, I can switch off.
“I’ve got no outside distractions. I’m a family man. I’ve got about three friends. I’m a very familyorientated person.
“If I’m on holiday, I’m doing stuff with my girls, letting them paint my nails pink and all that stuff, putting things on my head – it does feel nice on this head, to be fair.” Selection for England’s World Cup squad capped
a remarkable season for Delph.
It was one that could have ended with him being relegated, rather than winning the Premier League in a record-breaking City side.
Last summer, he was in limbo, with Stoke – now relegated from the top flight – pushing to sign him.
But he stayed and, when Benjamin Mendy was injured long-term, his decision was justified, Delph reinventing himself as a left-back and playing there for the rest of the season.
“I was at home when I got the text,” he said, recalling the moment he was called up to the World Cup squad.
“I thought I had a good chance of being involved, so I wouldn’t say I was surprised. But I was over the moon, doing cartwheels.
“It was tricky for me at the start of the season because I wasn’t sure where I was going to be. There was a lot of talk about me moving on.
“There were quite a few clubs interested and opportunities to leave and get regular football.
“But to just give up and move on to a team where I was guaranteed to play didn’t sit right with me. I felt like I needed to give it one last go – and it happened.”
Delph was selected in Roy Hodgson’s provisional squad for Euro 2016, but failed to make the final cut.
“I played in most of the England games in the build-up to the Euros and was confident I’d get a seat,” said Delph.
“But I was hit-and-miss that first season at City, in terms of injuries, and wasn’t playing regularly, so I can understand why I didn’t make the squad.
“It’s not really sunk in yet, but winning the Premier League and being included in this World Cup squad is huge for me. When I get an opportunity to think about it, I’m sure I’ll be smiling.”
Delph joined up with some of his England team-mates for a pre-World Cup get-together this week, before the full squad begin the countdown to Russia next week.
And the personable Yorkshireman will make sure the first thing he packs for Russia are his favourite tea bags – after forgetting them this week.
“I met my wife in Leeds and I’m from Bradford, so there’s only Yorkshire tea bags in my house,” said Delph.
“I forgot them and she rang me to say, ‘You’ve forgotten your tea bags’. So I’ll be taking them to Russia, 100 per cent.”