Conor Gallagher admits he was “surprised” to be included in England’s squad after his early season struggles with Chelsea.
And he hopes the World Cup break can help turn things around for both himself and his struggling club. Gallagher said: “To be honest, I didn’t expect it. Obviously, I was hoping there was a chance but I was a little bit surprised.
“I’ve not played consistent football with Chelsea and, as a team, Chelsea have not played great this season - we’ve definitely got a lot to improve and I am sure we will.”
Gallagher made his seventh Premier League start of the season in Chelsea's last game before Qatar 2022, a defeat at Newcastle that left Chelsea eighth in the table and manager Graham Potter under increasing pressure.
But Gallagher is backing Potter to turn things around, saying: “It (the World Cup break) definitely did come at a good time. We needed everyone to get away and regroup in their minds and come back fresh and raring to go.
“It is never just a smooth road. With the other teams that started their journey, for example Arteta at Arsenal and Klopp at Liverpool, they weren’t that best team straight away. They start that journey and that’s what Graham Potter is on with us as well.
“I feel we will definitely improve because of the people around the club, the players and staff, and how badly we want to do well for the fans.”
While Gallagher has not had the best start to the season, he is reaping the reward for not sulking when Gareth Southgate sent him to the under-21s in September.
He agreed, saying: “If I didn’t go and do my job properly and go and play with the 21s then I probably would not be here now. It’s about doing things right and always training as hard as I can and playing as well as I can when possible.
"Back then, playing in those two games for the under-21s was a big factor.”
