James Hill has outlined his England World Cup dream as he admits playing week in, week out at Hearts is 'tremendous'.
The 21-year-old was snapped up on a loan deal by Robbie Neilson in January to beef up his defensive options with Craig Halkett out for the season. The Bournemouth defender has settled like a duck to water in the capital and has quickly established himself as a key member of the side that is challenging for the top three and in the Scottish Cup.
A spell in the capital playing consistent first-team football is exactly what he wants at this stage of his career as he bids to return south and force his way in due to his performances in Scotland's top flight. From there he wants to establish himself as a regular at the top level and eventually go on to win caps for England and play in the World Cup. A long shot maybe, but it is a dream for Hill who achieved becoming a professional football so why not go on and make his next one a reality also?
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He told Edinburgh Evening News: "I’m looking at the players in the age band that I represent and I’m thinking ‘how can you ever be satisfied?’ You want to be the next one.
“I’m looking at the next World Cup in four years and it might be a long shot but those are the goals I’m aiming for. One day I want to be playing for the first team at England level. It is a dream but as a kid, the dream for me was to be a footballer, so who’s to say I can’t achieve my next dream?
“I’m 21 years of age and when it comes to my goals I have more unticked boxes than ticked boxes at the moment and that’s the way you’ve got to think. You have to keep striving for the top.
“I am at Hearts and I’m playing week in, week out and that is tremendous for me but my goal now is to help Hearts to get to where they want to get to. They have given me the opportunity to play football and that gives me the chance to go back to Bournemouth and say ‘listen, gaffer, I’m here, I’ve made a statement and now there is no excuse not to use me unless you think I need more experience’.
“It is step by step, baby steps, but hopefully I am striding out in the Premier League one day.”
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