QUANSAH'S WUNDERBAR

Jarell living his World Cup dream after tough call to quit Kop for German giants Leverkusen made it happen

- FROM JOHN CROSS

JARELL QUANSAH admits he had to take a "really tough decision" to make his World Cup dream a reality.

Quansah quit Liverpool to join Bayer Leverkusen in a 35million move to secure more regular game time to boost his England chances.

That decision has reaped rich rewards with Champions League appearances and a place on the plane to the United States.

Quansah grew up at Liverpool, but is now enjoying life in Germany where he is going from strength to strength as a versatile defender.

"Last summer, it was a really tough decision to walk away from my boyhood club - a club I’ve been at all my life," said the 23-year-old, who came on as a sub for Jude Bellingham in this week’s final warm-up against Costa Rica. "But I just knew it was the best thing that I needed for my career, to be playing week in, week out.

"People who know me know I back myself no matter what and I feel like I’m capable of playing at the highest level.

"I wanted to show that this season. To be rewarded by being selected for the World Cup is an absolute honour and it’s all down to the hard work I’ve put in over the past 12 months."