I want to show English stars what I'm capable of, says Hearts ace Andy Driver

Jun 7 2009 Scott Mcdermott

ANDY DRIVER wants to prove he can cut it among the world's best young players at the Under-21 Euro Finals and defy critics of the SPL.

The Hearts winger was a shock pick in Stuart Pearce's England squad who head to Sweden this week in a bid to be crowned champions of Europe.

It's Driver's first involvement with the U-21's and he'll compete with the likes of Theo Walcott and James Milner for a starting slot.

If England reach the latter stages the 21-year-old could come up against Spanish wonderkid Bojan Krkic and Italy's strike sensation Mario Balotelli.

For Driver it's a dream come true to be keeping company with the hottest prospects on the planet.

And he's hell-bent on using the next fortnight as a platform to showcase his talent and prove to people the SPL isn't a Mickey Mouse league.

He told MailSport: "It's strange seeing my name on a list with the likes of Walcott, Gabriel

Agbonlahor and Milner. I was nervous when I first joined up with all these big names.

"But they've been brilliant with me, they're all sound guys and maybe not what you would expect.

"I'm still quiet, I've never been the life and soul of the party. But I'm more confident now that I've spent a week with the boys.

"I've watched the sessions and it's fast, sharp and of a real high standard. I just want to get in there and prove I can adapt to it.

Involved "The tournament is live on SKY TV and when you see the players involved, I've dreamed of mixing it with some of these guys.

"Spain have Bojan and Diego Capel of Sevilla. Italy have Balotelli so that shows the standard of player in the tournament.

"This is a golden opportunity for me to reach a wider audience.

"It's also a chance to show people the Scottish league isn't as bad as everyone says it is.

"This could help me further my career. I'm not saying I want to move from Hearts yet but I can put myself on the map and show people what I'm made of." Driver has been a revelation for the Jambos since he made his debut three years ago and the Gorgie club have already knocked back bids for him from Burnley and Coventry City.

But despite his impressive form Andy was still in shock when Pearce included him in the squad.

He said: "I was happy just to be picked in the original pool of 40 then I got a message saying it had been trimmed to 29 and I was in.

"My dilemma then was should I book my holiday or wait to see if I make the final squad? "Then the FA sent a message to the club, they got in touch with my dad and he broke the news to me.

"Next thing I knew I was there and in the squad.

"It was a crazy few days and it all happened so quickly.

"It's incredible to think the first-ever squad I've been called in to is for a major tournament - I've been saying that to everyone, it's just mad.

"We're getting a private jet taking us to Sweden so it's just like the full England team, it's great.

"I planned to go to Barbados and America with Jamey, my partner, and the whole family had already booked for Las Vegas.

"Obviously we've had to delay it now."