Key man Kemp pivotal in emphatic England win

Dan Kemp

 

Dan Kemp expressed his delight after creating two goals as England’s U19s recorded an emphatic 7-1 friendly victory over Poland on Friday.

The West Ham United winger, who has been on fire for the Club’s U23s this season with three goals in just four appearances, teamed up with the young Lions for their matches against Poland and Germany.

And the 18-year-old collected two assists as the hosts scored seven times through Sheffield Wednesday’s George Hirst and Arsenal’s Edward Nketiah – both of whom fired in hat-tricks – as well as Sunderland man Elliot Embleton.

After the thrashing, a thrilled Kemp said: “I’m delighted to have first started the game as it’s always an honour to represent my country. I have started twice before but the feeling is always fresh and new and always amazing.

“To get the assists at the end of the day is just part of my job as an attacking player – to create and score goals – but obviously I’m delighted to have got two assists.

“I’m still looking for my first goal but I feel it will come soon enough and the most important thing is that we won and the team played great.

I have started twice before [for England] but the feeling is always fresh and new and always amazing

Dan Kemp

Dan Kemp
“I hope to keep doing well when playing for England and work hard to keep improving and getting better and better with each game and training sessions with the boys.

“The aim for us as a group is to keep getting working together to be ready to perform well and hopefully retain the European Championship at the end of the season. The feeling I get when I play for my country is special and such a honour.”

The U23s were beaten heavily by Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, but had a number of key men missing, including the likes of Nathan Trott, Josh Pask and Martin Samuelsen, as well as Kemp.

Prior to the defeat, Terry Westley’s Hammers were unbeaten in all competitions and Kemp has taken great confidence from the superb start to the season.

“I feel I've had a great start to the season with West Ham and I am really enjoying my football and this has helped me to take this onto playing for England,” he continued.

“I am so happy to get the opportunity to play for my country and start our U19 campaign so well.

“I enjoy scoring and providing goals and nothing is better than this for an attacking player like me. This season, I have I set myself bigger goal and assists targets and I am now just really hoping to achieve them.”