Adam Wharton is a special case for the English national team. In January, he was playing in the Championship defending the Blackburn Rovers jersey; in February, at the age of 20, he made the leap to the Premier League: he signed for Crystal Palace for around 19 million euros and reached one of the best leagues in the world. And, after competing for a few months in the top tier of British football, he received a call from Gareth Southgate.

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Now Wharton is on cloud nine. He is one of the 26 chosen by his coach to play in a European Championship with high expectations. The Blackburn midfielder is not expected to play a key role unless there's a surprise, but his progress in just half a year is remarkable: from debuting with the U-21s in March, he has now reached the senior team and made a notable debut against Bosnia just over a week ago. He came onto the pitch with half an hour remaining and earned a spot on the plane to Germany.

That day is etched in the memory of the entire Wharton family, who enjoyed watching the debut of a young man who left his father, John Wharton, speechless when he appeared on the pitch to replace Kieran Trippier. "It was a great experience; I got quite emotional when he came on. It was a great day overall. These last few days with the team, he's been sitting down to breakfast with Harry Kane and talking with Declan Rice. He seems like a happy guy," he said on a BBC Lancashire radio station.

Just nine matchdays after his dream debut, Adam Wharton spoke to the media for the first time as a player for the senior English national team. The first thing he did was describe his call-up to play in Germany as "surreal."

"Honestly, I didn't expect it. Obviously, I've just arrived in the Premier League, so it was more of a kind of reward if I got called up. But I'm absolutely delighted. I can do what I love at the highest level, and there's nothing better," he said.

"For me, it's all been very quick. I don't think much about it; for me, it's football. I've really enjoyed the last few months and just want to keep playing and improving," he added.

England will debut in the European Championship against Serbia, and Wharton is not intimidated by the possibility of playing his first official match in the British national team's jersey: "The coach picks the team. Obviously, there are incredible players. If I'm chosen to play, I'm more than ready. But whoever is on the pitch, I'm sure they will step up and help the team get the result we want."

Wharton, born in Blackburn just two decades ago, summarized the last two years of his life and reflected on his childhood. "Honestly, it's hard. It's a dream come true. Every kid growing up playing football wants to play in the Premier League and for their country. At first, I played for the team I was a fan of, and I really enjoyed it. Then I moved to the Premier League, and now I'm here. It's all happened very quickly, but I wouldn't change it for anything," he explained.

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The Crystal Palace midfielder closed his first appearance before the media with some words for Southgate. He revealed that after facing Bosnia, his coach congratulated him and told him to keep improving.

"I'll try my best to impress him throughout the week and when given an opportunity." And so the very young English player concluded his press conference: with the same confidence with which he has landed in the England squad. He has gone from almost nothing to everything in just five months. Surreal, as Wharton himself put it.