Andros Townsend determined to seize surprise Euro 2016 chance

Andros Townsend was frozen out at Tottenham by Mauricio Pochettino but reflects on how he got his career back on track at Newcastle, and his motivation to make it to Euro 2016.

Andros Townsend celebrates scoring one of his four goals for Newcastle (Getty)

The hardest moment for Andros Townsend, the moment when he wondered where his career was heading, was a cold January night at Chester FC. Townsend was playing for Tottenham Under-21s against Liverpool, hoping to stay fit, earn a move and get playing again.

It was more than three months since Townsend’s last appearance for Spurs’ first team, all the way back in October 2015. He had fallen out with Mauricio Pochettino, and was finding, like a few Tottenham players before him, that there was no way back from that. He was a 24-year-old England international playing for a Spurs side with not one other minute of first-team experience in it.

While all this was going on, the Spurs team from which Townsend had been banished was putting together its best title challenge in a generation. For a boyhood Tottenham fan and academy product, his exile was difficult to take.

Which is why the turnaround in the last four months for Townsend – the transfer to Newcastle, the return of his confidence, the inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s 26-man squad – is so impressive, and so surprising.

“The lowest point was probably when I was playing for the under-21s and the boys were doing so well, winning games at the top of the Premier League,” Townsend reflected at St George’s Park, after the first day of training for the selected England players. “It was no secret that I wasn’t playing enough football and my confidence was low. I needed to get back playing week-in week-out. I knew if I got back to my best I could get in the England squad.”

“I always had the belief that my quality would shine through and I’d get back to where I wanted to be. But it was difficult. When you’re going to Chester on a Monday night to play against Liverpool under 21’s you don’t see yourself making the England squad for the Euros six months later.”

All Townsend needed was a chance and that came the morning after that game at Chester, when Tottenham accepted a £12million bid from Newcastle United for him. “I wondered what would happen with my career so was grateful that Newcastle paid a lot of money for me and helped me get things back on track,” he said. “I didn’t foresee it, but had enough faith in my ability to know that if I got the chance to play regularly I’d get my form back.”

That is what happened at St James’ Park. Townsend flourished in his new environment, especially when Rafael Benitez replaced Steve McClaren as manager. “He has been great with me,” Townsend said. “In the last few weeks I have been close to my best [form]. I am just warming up and getting into my stride. I am feeling great, and disappointed that the season ended when it did. Hopefully I can extend the season a lot more.”

Townsend is now one of the few wide options in the squad, along with Raheem Sterling. If he performs well against Turkey and Australia, a place in France is there for him. Having missed the 2014 World Cup through injury, back when he was a Tottenham regular, that would mean the world.

“Missing the World Cup through injury was the lowest point in my career and now I’ve got the chance to put that to rest and go to a major tournament,” said Townsend. “It’s in my hands.”