Djed Spence opens up on becoming England’s first-ever Muslim footballer

Djed Spence’s call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers was a profession spotlight in itself – however it additionally carried large significance far past the pitch.

By incomes his place within the squad, the Tottenham Hotspur defender has develop into the primary brazenly working towards Muslim footballer to obtain a senior England males’s call-up. Ought to he function in both of the upcoming fixtures in opposition to Andorra or Serbia, Spence is predicted to make historical past as the primary Muslim man to play for the Three Lions.

Chatting with BBC Sport concerning the achievement, the 25-year-old admitted the second was exhausting to place into phrases.

“It is a blessing – it is simply wonderful. I haven’t got the phrases actually,” he mentioned. “I pray quite a bit, I give gratitude to God. Within the hardest moments of my life, the darkest moments, I’ve at all times believed that God has at all times been by my aspect. It is a large factor for me, my religion.”

Spence’s call-up caps a exceptional turnaround on the pitch for the previous Middlesbrough right-back, who was despatched out on mortgage by Spurs 3 times – at Rennes, Leeds and Genoa – earlier than breaking into the primary crew final season and enjoying a key function of their Europa League triumph.

Now, Spence says he desires to make use of his story as inspiration for others, whereas remaining targeted on merely having fun with his soccer.

“I do not actually really feel the stress for sure issues. I simply play soccer with a smile on my face, be joyful, and the remainder will deal with your self,” he defined. “If I can do it, you are able to do it. Not simply Muslim children, any youngster of any religion. Put your thoughts to one thing and you are able to do it.”

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