Ex-Burnley FC ace Jay Rod trains with England squad

Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez, Phil Jones, Ross Barkley during the England training session (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Burnley-born Rodriguez - coached by Overson in his formative years - received his first call-up to the senior squad for the Wembley friendlies with Chile tomorrow night, and Germany on Tuesday.

And the 24-year-old is in line to start against Chile in the absence of injured Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck.

Overson first worked with the £7m. striker as an 11-year-old at Barrowford Celtic, and was on the Burnley youth staff when he was awarded his first professional contract in 2007.

He feels Rodriguez has a real opportunity to stake a claim for a place in Roy Hodgson’s squad for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil, and he said: “He has an unbelievable chance now, I’m sure he’s saying ‘is this really happening to me?’, but he’ll take it in his stride.”

Read more about what Vince has to say about Jay Rod in Friday’s Express and Nelson-Leader Series.