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Aarons Aims For England Head Start
Written by Newcastle Utd
Rolando Aarons is hoping to use his England Under-20 call-up as a head start to the 2015/16 campaign
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Rolando Aarons is hoping to use his England Under-20 call-up as a head start to the 2015/16 campaign.
The talented teenager has only just returned from six months sidelined by a succession of hamstring injuries, but once fit again was awarded a place in the Young Lions' squad for the prestigious Toulon Tournament.
England have been named in Group B and face Morocco on Thursday before going up against Ivory Coast and Mexico, on Saturday and Wednesday respectively.
And Aarons has set his sights on a successful showing in the national jersey over the next week, in order to be able to pull on his black and white striped club shirt on a regular basis next term.
"I'm so proud. It's my second call-up, and I really enjoyed the first time, so I'm looking forward to this one as well," the 19-year-old forward told nufc.co.uk.
"I got a call from the national manager to ask if I was available and fit, and I jumped at the chance to play for my country again.
"I used to watch the Toulon Tournament on television when I was younger. I remember Paul Pogba playing in it when France won, so I know what a huge tournament it is and how important it can be for the development of young players.
"I haven't played a lot of football this season, so I'm looking forward to the tournament, just to get some match-fitness back.
"I want to play, I want to get sharp and use this as an early push for next season. When I come back to Newcastle for pre-season I want to have an edge on everyone else.
"It's been six months since I was playing regularly. I feel fit but just need to get sharp again and that is difficult, especially at this time of the year.
"But I have been working really hard in training over the last few weeks and want to take that into the England squad and make sure I get selected for the matches."
While Aarons focuses on representing his country, he is relived to do so knowing he will return to Tyneside and a top flight football club.
"I'm happy to get called-up but the most important thing is that I am joining up with the squad as a Premier League player," he continued.
"Yes, I wasn't involved against West Ham but that was a huge game and huge result for the Club.
"All that mattered was that Newcastle stayed in the Premier League. Getting relegated would have been disastrous but we got the win we needed."