Jack’s family forfeit
® JACK CORK admits he put Gareth Southgate before his own wife when England came calling.
Cork was heading to Dubai for a family holiday with Freya and their two sons when Southgate invited him to join his squad out of the blue.
Southgate decided to select Cork after seeing a raft of stars pull out injured.
And the Burnley midfielder didn’t think twice about turning his back on some fun in the sun in favour of tackling the two best sides in the world.
Cork, 28, made his international debut as a late substitute in the goalless draw with Germany and is expected to start against Brazil at Wembley tomorrow night.
Chance
He said: “I was about to go on holiday with the missus and the kids when the gaffer called me in the morning and said, ‘Do you want to come?’.
“I was going to Dubai with them, they’re over there now.
“They’ve gone and taken my mum over to help with the kids.
“I told them to go because I didn’t think I’d feature against Germany. I thought there would be more chance on Tuesday.
“But they’ll be alright. I’m sure my mum was buzzing.”
Cork’s England chance is just reward for someone who has been instrumental in Burnley’s impressive start to the season.
The Clarets are seventh in the Premier League, level on points with Liverpool and Arsenal.
Cork added: “It was amazing, one of the highlights of my career.
“Just to come out at Wembley, against Germany, in a big game and get on the pitch is a dream.
“When you’re a kid and playing in the garden, you want to walk out at Wembley.
“It’s one of the highest levels you can get and I’m dead chuffed to have got out there.”