Jimmy Bullard has spoken of his delight at being part of the England squad as he completes the meteoric rise from painter and decorator to international football.

Nine years ago Bullard was playing part-time football for £60 a week with Gravesend & Northfleet.

Now he is pushing for a place in Fabio Capello's side for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.

Bullard, who started his career with Corinthians before joining Dartford, said: "I've come up through the leagues. It has been slow but there have been a lot of great times and now wearing the England tracksuit is great for me, fantastic.

"I was a painter and decorator with my dad at Gravesend. I did that for three years alongside playing non-league football.

"My dad looked after me. I owe a lot to him. He always said 'always play to your best, never give in, you never know who is watching'.

"He always gave me the day off if I was playing football, so I could rest my legs and my mind, so I could give it 100 per cent at football.

"But to play football and have a seven o'clock to seven o'clock job is hard. It is hard work, rubbing down walls and ceilings."

Bullard thought his career might be over when he suffered a horrific knee injury two years ago when playing for Fulham that resulted in a 16 month lay-off.

The midfielder gives a lot of credit to surgeon Dr Richard Steadman for helping to rebuild his career.

He said: "I had a lot of dark times, 16 months out. Halfway through I was thinking I might need more surgery or may even have to hang up my boots at one point.

"It was a nightmare but I finally got through it.

"Dr Steadman was brilliant. I was on the phone to him all the time. He helped me so much through rehab and, to get me back playing, I owe so much to him."