Ex-Premier League centre-back is given international call-up for new side aged 38… 15 years after he was selected in Fabio Capello’s first England squad

• The 38-year-old defender currently plays for League One side Cheltenham Town
• The former Aston Villa and West Brom centre-back has a Sierra Leonean father 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ 

A former Hull and Derby centre-back has received an international call-up for a new side 15 years after he was selected by Fabio Capello to play for England. 

The 38-year-old defender has made more than 500 professional appearances for clubs including Birmingham, Aston Villa and West Brom. 

He currently plays for League One side Cheltenham Town, making three appearances after joining the club this year. 

After earning three caps for the England U-21 side, he was included in Fabio Capello’s squad in January 2008 but never made his full debut.

Now, Curtis Davies – who was born in London to an English mother and Sierra Leonean father – is fulfilling a career ambition by playing for Sierra Leone.

Former Hull and Derby centre-back Curtis Davies, pictured far right, trains with the England squad in 2008

The 38-year-old has made more than 500 professional appearances for clubs including Birmingham, Derby and Aston Villa

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He wrote on X: ‘I’m delighted to formally announce that I will be joining the Sierra Leone national team for their upcoming friendlies. 

‘I thought the opportunity to represent the country of my father’s birth had passed but I feel very proud and humbled to have received the call.

‘It will be a proud moment for me to pull on the shirt of The Leone Stars and make my family in Sierra Leone proud but most of all my dad. He did everything in his power to give me the best chance to become a footballer, so I dedicate this all to him. Looking forward to getting going.’ 

The 38-year-old will now join up with the team for their friendlies against Benin and Somalia. 

Sierra Leone are currently 124th in the FIFA world rankings and have not qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Davies previously explained he would be open to play for Sierra Leone if playing for England never materialised.

Speaking in 2014, he said: ‘I’ve had contact with them before but before I retire, if I haven’t managed to live my dream and play for England, then I’ll definitely consider going over and playing for Sierra Leone.’

Davies, who was born in London to an English mother and Sierra Leonean father, now plays for League One side Cheltenham Town

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