Sat inside the Blankenhainer Schloss, the town castle that is doubling up as England’s media base during their stay in Germany, Adam Wharton was as calm answering questions as he was in his national team debut little more than a week ago.
The 20 year old remains unruffled despite a dramatic ascent.
Whether it be his impact at his boyhood club, Blackburn Rovers, in the Championship; making the leap up to the Premier League look like one of his nonchalant side-steps with his assured start to life at Crystal Palace; or his first minutes as a senior international, Wharton appears to have barely broken sweat.
That he is now part of Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad settling into tournament life ahead of the start of Euro 2024, despite having made only one substitute appearance for the under-21s, in March, underlines the breakneck speed with which this Lancashire lad has reached this milestone.
Wharton described his first senior international call up, initially for the extended 33-man training squad but now having been kept on for the tournament, as “surreal” and admitted that he “wasn’t really expecting it”.
“I’ve only just got into the Premier League, so I wasn’t really expecting anything,” he said. “I am absolutely delighted. I get to do what I love on the top stage, you can’t beat it.”
Wharton only made his Blackburn debut 22 months ago, in a Carabao Cup first-round tie against Fleetwood Town and admitted that the pace at which things have developed is “hard to describe” but certainly “a dream come true”.
“Every kid that grows up playing football wants to play in the Premier League and for their country,” he added. “I got to play for the team I supported to begin with and really enjoyed that.
“It has continued since moving to the Premier League and now I’m here, so yeah, it has all been very fast but I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
His inclusion in the final squad is on merit, however. The midfielder’s performances in the Premier League, which included three assists in his last eight games of the league campaign, have been one of the hallmarks of Palace’s strong finish to the season under new manager Oliver Glasner.
Wharton is England's European midfield option
Wharton also offers something different to the other midfielders at Southgate’s disposal. The England manager said after his impressive cameo against Bosnia-Herzegovina last Monday that he “sees pictures early” — and a pass completion of 100 per cent highlighted as much.
Nevertheless, the modest midfielder maintained that there remains room for improvement “on the little things” in his game.
As he addressed the media, it was apparent that Wharton’s focus rarely drifts from the next practice session or game. He admitted he likes to keep himself to himself but enjoys watching football and has taken aspects from a collection of top midfielders to strengthen his own game.
He has also been grateful for the welcome afforded to him by Declan Rice, England’s senior midfielder, who has helped him iron out details in his game on things like “body positioning and communication”.
“He’s a top guy off the pitch as well, speaking to him, getting those little things,” Wharton added. “Learning off everyone though but especially him, similar positions. He has really welcomed me into the squad.”
It has not gone unnoticed either that there is a starting berth alongside Rice yet to be nailed down. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher are the two main contenders ahead of the opening group game against Serbia on Sunday.
But despite him not having the same levels of experience as those two, or Kobbie Mainoo for that matter, the 20 year old has made it known that he will also be ready if called upon.
“The manager picks the team,” he said. “Obviously there are some unbelievable players. If I am chosen to play, I am more than ready but whoever is on the pitch, I’m sure will step up, perform and help the team get the result we want.”
Whenever the chance comes to get his first taste of playing competitively for England, one would suspect the unflustered midfielder will take it in his stride. “I don’t really think about it too much,” he said, “it’s more football for me.”
