Norwich City’s on loan midfielder Isaac Hayden hopes football is 'coming home’ and backs England for World Cup glory. 

Hayden has represented the Three Lions at every age group level and backs Gareth Southgate’s talented squad to go all the way. 

England face a titanic quarter-final against holders France this weekend in Qatar but Hayden believes this generation are ready to end the long wait for silverware. 

“100pc. England have a chance to win the World Cup. I said it from the start to some friends and family. If we don’t win a World Cup in the next two to three cycles I would be severely disappointed,” he said. “Why? Just because of the players we have got, the talent we have got, the culture they have created.  

“There is a clear difference between what you might call the ‘Golden Generation’. They should have done a lot better than they did, and they have spoken themselves since retiring about little things like the club cliques when they would eat on separate tables. This culture is all together. 

“I was lucky enough to have Gareth and Steve (Holland) in a couple of under-21 camps before they stepped up to the first team. They were the same then. The 21s was a good place to be. You wanted to go and join the camps. Players enjoy it, it is not boring.  

“The talent right now, for me, is as good as any squad in the world. (Jude) Bellingham, (Bukayo) Saka, (Harry) Kane. People say Kieran Trippier is maybe a third choice right back after Kyle Walker or Reece James (when fit), but he is unbelievable. What a leader. Fantastic defensively, fantastic going forward.

"They have so much ability in that squad. After what they did at the Euros I think this group has that mentality. Semi-final at the last World Cup, final of the Euros last summer. They know what it takes in those big moments.” 

Hayden, interviewed for the Steven Sulley Study podcast, revealed he turned down overtures from Jamaica when he was at Newcastle who were keen to bring him on board due to his father’s heritage. 

“Jamaica approached me two years ago. They wanted me to get a passport and play for them,” he said. “Whether people want to accept it or not I said to them my dream has been to play for England. I still have that dream. I have the mentality nothing is impossible so until I retire, or my legs don’t move, I will continue to believe that.

"In my head, even though at the moment I am miles away, I have that mentality. I said that to them.  

“The pitch from them was we have loads joining, people like Ravel Morrison and Michail Antonio, and we are going to get to the World Cup. But I said if my motivation is to get Jamaica to the World Cup that is not right.

"It would have to be I want to play for them. Not to deprive someone a place who is desperate to play for Jamaica.  

“I have played every single England age group from 16s to 21s but not the first team. For me to join up with Jamaica would be for the wrong reasons.”