Daily Star

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ALFIE MAWSON says he will keep his mind on the job in hand – despite his shock call-up by England.

The Swansea defender has been handed his big chance for the games against Holland and Italy. But Mawson, who has six caps for England’s Under-21s, says he will not let the prospect of a place on the plane to Russia distract him from the FA Cup quarter-final with Tottenham this lunchtime. “I don’t want to get my head turned by chat about internatio­nals,” said Mawson. “Some pundits said I had a chance of getting in the squad and others thought I didn’t.

Proud

“It isn’t up to them, it’s just up to the first-team manager.

“He’s the man who’s job it is to make that decision.

“The call-up is fantastic and it’s a really proud moment for me, but I’m not thinking about it too much. I’m focused on keeping Swansea up.”

Mawson, who is out to make history by leading the Swans to a first FA Cup semi-final in 54 years, fully deserves his selection by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.

At 24, the former Barnsley man has been a consistent performer at Premier League level, despite Swansea’s struggles in the first half of the season.

Mawson has helped move the Welsh side away from relegation danger and into the last eight of the cup following the appointmen­t of boss Carlos Carvalhal as Paul

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