MY ACCOUNT
Ben Chilwell hopes to achieve the “highlight of my life” by securing the left-back spot for England and featuring at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
The Chelsea defender missed a large part of the 2021-22 campaign, playing just 541 Premier League minutes, after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Juventus in November.
Chilwell required surgery for his knee issue but made an encouraging return on the final day of the season against Watford.
While the 25-year-old aims to deliver success for Thomas Tuchel’s side, Chilwell also has his eyes on the World Cup in November, where England are in a group with Wales, Iran and the United States.
Luke Shaw and Tyrick Mitchell are among the left-backs competing with Chilwell, though Gareth Southgate has previously utilised right-backs Kieran Tripper and Reece James in the role.
With 17 caps to his name already after making his debut in September 2018, Chilwell wants to make the left-back position with England his own as the Three Lions search for a first major trophy since 1966.
“I’m back in full training now, I trained with the group in the last week of the season, came on for a few minutes,” he told reporters.
“It has been nice to get away from it all after a long six months of rehab for a few weeks. I’ve come back early and I’ve been here three weeks and feel fit and ready.
“I took [the injury] in my stride and was pretty positive. I felt it could improve me mentally. The World Cup is a big motivation as well as the season with Chelsea.
“If I play well between now and then I am confident I will be in the squad. That’s my mindset and I wasn’t worried.
“I just wanted to do everything I can to be the best version of myself and play well for Chelsea for four months to give myself a chance to be picked.
“I dreamed of playing in the World Cup ever since I can remember, to know it is around the corner is more motivation than you know for me to see if I can establish my spot. Especially after the Euros which was a difficult time for me.
“I want to be the left-back in the team and I think we can do really well and go a long way. It would be amazing. It would be a highlight of not just my career but my life.
“So I am going to work for it for the next four months.”
