WE’LL BE SUMMER LOVIN’ IT

...and we’ll be having a blast claims Chelsea star who is full of excitement over England’s “massive opportunity” to create history

FEW have been educated in the ways of the England set-up as thoroughly as Mason Mount.

He has been getting the St George’s Park training routine since GCSE age.

That is why he does the right things on the pitch and says the right things off it.

Does not get drawn into the teacher’s pet nonsense, takes nothing for granted, focuses on the next task.

Hence, the three World Cup qualifiers are “massive”.

Which, of course, they are, but only in the sense anything other than wins over San Marino and Poland at Wembley sandwiching a win in Albania will be seen as not good enough.

But we all know the wider importance of this gettogether. It is the start of a three-month countdown to another major tournament when England expects.

And as the Euros loom, Mount, possibly letting his guard slip or possibly happy to convey the confidence of this international class, admits the squad are aware a place in history awaits them.

“We know, this summer, there’s a massive opportunity. We all know that, as boys, as players,” he said. “What is in the front of our minds are these three games right now, but we all know what is around the corner. It is inevitable.

“We’re very excited. It’s a very exciting time for us and for the whole country.

“We’re all very, very excited for that opportunity and we know what we can achieve.

“It is a possibility of achieving greatness.”

Mount is well aware of the wider implications of England’s next attempt to end more than half a century of footballing hurt.

The game against San Marino, World Cup qualifier or not, will be little more than a training-ground exercise inside an empty Wembley.

Come late June and early July - Covid road-map permitting - the national stadium could be bouncing, the country could be partying and glory could be beckoning at Wembley.

For now, though, there is the formality of San Marino to take care of and then a tricky trip to Tirana followed by a familiar meeting with the Poles.

There is unlikely to be a more important player for Gareth Southgate than Mount.

At the age of 22, and with just 13 caps to his name, he is already becoming a key component of the England side. And, having already had a taste of skippering Chelsea, Mount is unashamed to say his dream is leading his country.

He said: “It’s a massive honour to captain Chelsea. I’ve done it twice now and it’s such a surreal moment to lead your players out to play a game. My goal as a youngster was, like any young kid, to play for England.

“To play for England is such an honour but to be able to captain the team is unbelievable - so that is always going to be a goal of mine.”

Having seen the way he has developed in loan spells and then established himself at Chelsea, few would bet against Mount one day achieving that goal.

But for now, he is focused on playing his part in a group that clearly believes it can take that “opportunity for greatness”.

He said: “We are very close as a group. We are like family. And that is the winning formula at major tournaments.”

Let’s hope so.