Jacob Ramsey believes time is on his side as far as England is concerned - and so does Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard.
The home-grown youngster was named as part of Lee Carsley’s Under-21 squad this week, having been an outside bet to make Gareth Southgate’s seniors.
That now looks a stretch as the fight to make the plane to Qatar was ramped up a notch this week but the Brummie, who scored the winner in a scrappy 1-0 victory over Southampton, still believes he can make the step up.
But perhaps not yet.
He said: “Last season, I went on a run with my goals and there were a few shouts about the seniors.
“At the moment, we haven’t started the season well, I’ve been a part of that, so my full focus has to be getting myself back in the form I had and pushing us back up the table.
“As a team and individually over the last five or six games, we haven’t been there.
“I’m still young and I’m still learning - against Manchester City I was playing as a ten and this week it was different again, I was playing as an eight. I’m still adapting.
“And getting called up to the 21s is still a big achievement.
“I’ve still got time.”
Gerrard went into Friday night’s game against the Saints under mounting pressure following a slow start to the campaign.
But a hard-fought point against Manchester City and Ramsey’s matchwinner against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints has given Villa overdue momentum and the goalscorer a shot of confidence.
Gerrard said: “We want to build this around JJ - the most important thing is we think he’s good enough. He’s got all the attributes.
“He’s got a lot of development and a lot of growing up to do but we can build a really good team around him.
“I know people want to talk about the World Cup but I don’t think that’s fair on him. From an international point of view, there’s no rush. He will get there.
“But he’s only just broken through, he’s only just becoming a regular.
“We are asking him to perform different roles in different games. That helped me grow and develop as a player and that will help him, too.
“I’ve got every confidence this kid will become an elite player and an international.
“But it’s difficult when he keeps getting assists as he did against Manchester City and scoring important winners.
“My job is to make sure there’s not too much noise around him so we can let him develop, grow and evolve naturally.
“If he keeps going as he is, he will get there. He’s a wonderful kid, really humble. He hangs onto every word of advice.
“He knows there are areas of his game he can improve because, in footballing terms, he’s still a baby and we love him.
“I love working with him and myself and my staff will give him every bit of attention he needs to get there.”
