GUS LOVES TO GET THE CALL FROM LIONS

GUS SCOTT-MORRISS insists he didn’t expect to get one England C cap – let alone two! Southend United’s attacking right-back was the only player wearing the Three Lions jersey for a second time. Scott-Morriss took the scenic route to professional football after coming through at Royston Town – who he helped to promotion to Step 3 – before a season at Hemel Hempstead Town and then landing a move to Southend. The 26-year-old made his international debut in last year’s 1-0 win over the Welsh at Altrincham.

“I never expected the first time, let alone the second,” Scott-Morriss told The NLP.

“I take it as a massive credit to be called up because there are a lot of players out there who can be called up. I take it as a real good confidence booster and I enjoy my time here.

“It’s a different experience, seeing different faces – it’s a really nice occasion.

“It’s been a rocky road to where I am now and playing in front of 6-7,000 every week. So I am very proud of the achievement. I would say playing for England C is my biggest achievement. “Growing up in Non-League you see those camps happen and, when you’re 20, 21, you don’t really believe you can go there.

“So to have it both times is really good.”

While the result was different from his first time, he still loved every minute of representing his country.

“It was a different challenge to the last game,” Scott-Morriss said. “Obviously this was on Welsh soil, they rallied and had fire in their bellies. They stuck it on us.

“I hate blaming refs but he could have got on top of it early doors rather than let a lot of stuff go. The tackle on Ed Francis was scandalous – I saw at half-time he had three stud marks below his knee.

“But to be fair, their winger (Bradley) stuck in a good free-kick and gave me a good night. Some nights that happens. It was a difficult pitch and we huffed and puffed without doing much.”