BACK when I was playing football, I was never a part of any senior international squads.

I always knew the international breaks would be a time when we could get some extra work in at Saints or an opportunity to have a break.

There were a number of the guys over the years who would go off to represent their countries and it was always great to follow that.

As teammates and friends, you would be keen on seeing how they got on and you would want them to come back without any injuries or issues.

However, I took a lot of pride in representing my country at schoolboy level. It was immense.

I was playing as a striker back then, wearing the number nine on my shirt, and leading the line for my country. It was a fantastic experience.

It was something I was very proud to be doing. Getting the opportunity to play at the old Wembley Stadium twice and winning both games was fantastic.

I remember scoring in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, the stadium where Jesse Owens won his famous Olympic medals.

What an experience that was playing against the old West Germany. They are wonderful memories.

I would have liked to have replicated that in my professional career but there were some very good players around at that level and in the position that I played in.

I don’t think that was ever going to come to fruition.

It is always a huge talking point when the international breaks come around and when the squads are announced. There are players that should be in there that aren’t and vice-versa.

There is always that debate around the national team working towards a major tournament. We are hopefully building towards winning one now.

The next competitive competition that comes up in the Summer is going to be a big one for Gareth Southgate, the squad, and us as a country.

We have been building up for this for some time now. We have come close in the past and the Lionesses are also showing the way with the success they have had.

Let’s hope the men can replicate that. I can relate to how important it is to have players representing their country within a club squad.

Especially for Southampton’s young players because they go away and will have that experience of what it is like to play international football.

To come back and share that with young players and for young players to be in and around that and to learn from those players is brilliant.

I witnessed that when I first joined the club at 16 as an apprentice on a full-time basis.

I was working and training day in and day out with so many seasoned internationals who had played a huge amount of games at that level.

Your learning experience just rockets when you are training with people like that. It takes it to a whole new level.

From the last game to when Saints next play against Middlesbrough, it is an unusually long period.

I don’t ever remember it being as intense as this season has been for the current squad. Clearly, there will be an element of work in there.

We have had periods of the season already for the current squad where it’s almost been play, recover, prepare, and then play again.

There is very little time for recovery from injuries at times.

It will be an opportunity for Russell Martin and the players that are staying behind to maybe get a little bit of additional rest, some extra work on the grass, and maybe do some things differently from what they previously worked on, with a focus on the upcoming games.

Every single game is going to be crucial. It is about preparing your mind and body for essentially five weeks of intense football at the end of the season.

Everyone knows the reward should we reach that second automatic spot. If not, they then need to mentally prepare themselves for the playoffs.