Eberechi Eze determined to take Euro 2024 chance after cruel Achilles injury

Eberechi Eze’s England career has gone full circle, with the Crystal Palace star looking to light up Euro 2024 three years on from an Achilles injury extinguishing his hopes of going to the last edition.

The 25-year-old has taken the path less travelled to the top, requiring resilience to bounce back from being released as a youth player by Arsenal, Fulham, Reading and then Millwall.

Eze got another chance aged 18 at Championship outfit QPR, where he flourished following a successful loan at Wycombe and went onto earn a move to Crystal Palace in 2020.

A fine first season in the Premier League put him on the cusp of a first England call-up, but he had to watch the Euros in a cast from afar having sustained a bad injury at the cruellest time.

“I got a provisional text, so they sort of send you that message before they select the team,” Eze said.

“It was obviously my first time getting that message, but this is after my Achilles had been ruptured on the training pitch.

“I’d gone inside, checked my phone and saw the message, so it was a tough day but, again, it’s part of the journey, part of the story, and grateful to be here now.”

Eze felt more emotional shock than physical pain after the horror injury, saying he had turned around to see who had kicked him only to realise nobody was there.

The love I have received the past couple of days from my teammates, staff, fans and friends has been so powerful and I can’t tell you all how much it means to me. It’s not ideal but I trust Gods plan for my life. His will, not mine. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5xB53jAsQB

— Ebere (@EbereEze10) May 19, 2021

The Palace player says he used Artur Dalaloyan as an inspiration during recovery after the gymnast managed to win an Olympic gold three months