I’d love to be pulling on my boots again for England..but saving Palace MUST come first
THERE was a time when Andros Townsend was never off the back pages.
The former Newcastle and Tottenham winger scored on his full England debut and netted the equaliser the last time the Three Lions played Italy. Touted as Gareth Bale’s replacement, he hit the headlines long before his Spurs youth team pal Harry Kane. Now reunited with his ex-England boss Roy Hodgson, he states he has never been happier playing a big part in another Crystal Palace relegation battle. But before facing Liverpool this weekend, the talented Townsend also admits he misses the spotlight. “Since I have come to Palace, especially at the back end of last season and this season, I think it is definitely the most enjoyable club football of my career,” said th e 26-yearold. “I have played the most minutes in the team. I am enjoying playing week in, week out, being one of the main players for Crystal Palace.
“It is out of the spotlight. When you are playing for Spurs and England, your every move is analysed and criticised, and I am happy with what I am doing now. I am happy with the way I am playing and how I am helping the team.
“Obviously, I would like to be back in the spotlight. But first and foremost, Palace need to stay up by hook or by crook.”
Townsend’s see-saw career had been on an upward trajectory until relegation with Newcastle was followed by Hodgson cutting him from his final squad for Euro 2016.
The two did not speak again until the manager followed him to Selhurst Park last September. Awkward?
“No,” he insisted. “We’re both grownup. He had that decision to make. At the time, I was devastated because I was in great form for Newcastle, but it’s only when you step back you realise that six months before that I was playing for Spurs’ reserve side. That put things into perspective.”
Townsend, who fiercely defended Hodgson after a clumsy joke was leaked from the England dressing room in 2013, added: “It’s no secret I owe a lot to the manager because he gave me my first 11 caps.
“And at club level he has given me the confidence to keep going and keep believing in myself.” Hodgson
The two did not speak again until the manager followed him to Selhurst Park last September
(with Townsend, left) has needed to do the same thing for Palace after he arrived at a club without a goal or a point.
“When he came in, we were in a bad situation and we had no confidence,” said Townsend.
“He stripped everything back and started again. We were doing basic drills, running through time and again where he wanted us to be, at what stage of the game, and what position.
“Now we are very confident we will stay up. The Huddersfield win was critical.”
Townsend did play twice under Gareth Southgate, but has been overtaken in the England running by the next generation. His goal against Montenegro in October 2013 feels like a long time ago.
“I just remember everything happening so quick at the start of my international career,” he added. “It was just a whirlwind time, it was the stuff of dreams. So it just shows how things can happen so fast in football.
“If I finished my international career with 13 caps, I’d feel unfulfilled.
‘‘I haven’t scored enough goals, haven’t played well enough, but I don’t think that ship has sailed.
“I definitely believe in my ability and that I can get into the England squad again one day.”