The NLP’s on the road with England C – all the reaction

IT’S been quite a few weeks for Ebbsfleet United’s Darren McQueen.

At the beginning of May, the striker fired his club into the National League with the winning goal in their promotion final against Chelmsford City.

And he ended the month on song for his country too, by hitting a double on his England C debut against the Panjab FA.

“To score two goals that helped us to the win has just added to the season I’ve had,” McQueen said. “I scored the winning goal for Ebbsfleet in the play-off semi-final and the final to gain promotion – it’s all a dream come true.”

With experienced campaigners Aaron McLean and Danny Kedwell in his ear at Daryl McMahon’s Ebbsfleet, the 22-yearold is soaking up all the guidance he gets.

“I’ve been listening to all the advice I’m given,” he said. “At the club there’s three or four strikers who have played at higher levels so I listen to what they say and I listen to the manager to use my strengths, which is running in behind and movement. That’s where 90 per cent of my goals have come from. “The main thing for me is to do it again in the next league. If I can do that I think there’s no barriers – I can go wherever. “It’s going to be a test for me but I like testing myself and if I can handle it there then it’s another step towards where I want to be.” England C assistant coach Mick Payne has known the former Tottenham, Ipswich Town and Maldon & Tiptree man’s talent for a long time – he used to be his manager at Chigwell School! “The players looked towards him,” Payne recalled. “We played an U15 game against Brentwood School, who were flying high at the time.

“It wasn’t an easy place to go but we won 5-0. He scored all five. That was the first time I really knew we had a special player on our hands.

“He’s a player that can change a game very quickly and has the ability to be a big player in big games. He proved that on England C duty in his first performance against Panjab. It was an excellent debut.

“He’s an unassuming boy but he was always driven by his football. He’s bright and intelligent and I’m sure he’s now realising he has an opportunity to be successful, I believe, back in the professional game.”

McQueen is at a club who can help him fulfil that – and he’s also targeting a place in England C’s squad for their International Challenge Trophy final against Slovakia.

“The main thing for me now is to get called-up for the final in November,” McQueen said. “I’ve given myself a good platform and shown everyone what I can do so hopefully I get picked again.”