Ince has England ambition

Tom Ince: Hopes to achieve great things with England

Blackpool midfielder Tom Ince says his ultimate ambition is to play for England, although he admits an international call-up could be some way off.

The 19-year-old is currently trying to nail down a regular place in the starting line-up with the Seasiders having moved from Liverpool in the summer.

And although he is currently plying his trade in the Championship, Ince still believes he can follow in the footsteps of his father Paul and represent his country one day.

"I'm still only 19, so I've got a lot of things to do before I can think of that properly, but I've watched my dad playing for England and that's where I want to be one day," he told The Guardian.

"In fact, I've told him I want to get to where he did and even better. That's my plan. He says it will never happen but you've got to have dreams, haven't you?"

Ince had the benefit of being around several Liverpool legends while growing up, as well as training with some more recent Anfield stars.

Lucky

He added: "I've been lucky in a lot of ways. My dad had a wonderful career and has always been there to give me advice.

"I used to go to watch Liverpool train and see Jamie Redknapp, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, legends of the game.

"Then, when I had joined the club I had the opportunity to train with the likes of Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso."

The teenager was offered a contract to stay at Liverpool but thought that a move away from the club would give him a better chance of playing first-team football.

"A lot of players would be scared about leaving a club like Liverpool," he said.

"It would have been very easy to stay but I just couldn't get away from the thought that I was 19 and wanted to get out and play regular football.

"I didn't want to get to 21 and still be playing reserve-team football. I was impatient to be playing and Ian Holloway was on the phone telling me I could be an important part of his team."