Adam Webster says his “phone blew up” when Jamie Carragher backed him for an England call-up.
Sky pundit and Liverpool legend Carragher said : “Webster’s passing out from the back, with both feet is better than any other English central defender.”
That should be enough to fill any Premier League defender with confidence, but Webster admits that is exactly the ingredient he has lacked in his career.
Brighton centre-half Webster, 27, is in terrific form, looking every inch an England defender - and yet he remains humble enough to remember where he has come from, and the obstacles he has overcome.
Recalling that Carragher tweet, Webster said: “It was after the Chelsea game, my phone had blown up when I liked it after the game and I had so many messages. It was nice to see because he had an amazing career himself and he’s a top pundit now.
Have Your Say! Is Adam Webster ready to make the step up for England? Tell us here.
“I feel every game I’ve played in this season, I’ve played well, I feel confident going onto the pitch, I feel like I’m a big part of the team now.
“Going back when I was younger, I never really had much confidence when I used to step onto the pitch and it was something I always struggled with.
“I've come a long way from playing in League Two and in the Conference with Aldershot. I represented England when I was younger so I always knew I had ability. I always knew I was good enough but I think it was just showing people and getting the opportunity to do so.”
From working his way up with Portsmouth, the former England Under-18s and 19s defender had a loan spell at Aldershot before moving to Ipswich, Bristol City and now established at Brighton.
But it was at Portsmouth when he admits the stick was getting him down. “You sort of play within yourself,” he said. “I remember once actually, I was on the bench and we lost 1-0 away at Leyton Orient and one of the young lads played a back pass, it got intercepted and we lost.
“But after the game, it was me getting pelters on Twitter! People were saying: ‘Don’t worry, you won't be as bad as Adam Webster.’ I was like: ‘Hold on a minute, I wasn’t even playing!’ It was quite tough at the time and I probably didn’t change until I was 20 or 21.
“I kicked on and then obviously made the step up to the Premier League and in that first year I was not sure again, I felt I had to prove myself and maybe had a few doubts. But now I’m happy with where I am and my confidence is probably better than it’s ever been right now.”
Webster has grown in stature playing under Graham Potter at Brighton, was superb against Chelsea when he scored and now he has the chance again to showcase his talents in front of the TV cameras against Tottenham in the FA Cup.
He would love to play for England and, as Carragher says, it is a struggle to think of any better English defenders who are comfortable bringing the ball out and using two feet. His passing and tackling stats are better than his rivals.
Webster added: “It’s every kid’s dream to play for their country and I’m certainly no different. I’ve always wanted to do it but not believe that I could do it one day.
“I’m in a good place now, I’m happy to keep improving every game and hoping to maybe one day break in."
