Former Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope has reflected on his meteoric rise to the England national team.

Pope was selected in Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad for next month’s World Cup after his impressive season with Burnley.

The 26-year-old was behind Tom Heaton and Paul Robinson in the pecking order when he arrived at Turf Moor from Charlton in 2016.

But Robinson’s retirement and a serious shoulder injury to Heaton saw the ex-milkman make his Premier League debut in September.

He hasn't looked back since.

"It feels like it's gone in the blink of an eye, almost," said Pope, who will battle Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland for the no1 spot in Russia.

"It's been that quick. Obviously a year ago, I don't think I was sitting there going, 'Oh, I can't wait to maybe get to the World Cup next year'.

"It's definitely been a season that I don't think I'll ever forget. It's been a mad nine, 10 months that's led me to get to this stage. It was September when I played my first Premier League game.

"Even at that point you don't picture going to a World Cup or getting called up for England. To be here is surreal.”

Pope, who has never represented England at senior or youth level, was selected ahead of two-time Premier League winner Joe Hart for this summer’s World Cup squad.

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Hart has been England’s first-choice goalkeeper for the last three major tournaments.

"I wouldn't mind his 75 caps! It’s been a great career for him," Pope added.

“He’s someone that I've looked up to in the past and someone I've managed to learn off and watch play a lot of games.

"That is a measure of the competition that someone like Joe hasn't quite made the squad.

"A lot of lads that have missed out are probably disappointed but the standard and level we get to pick from England makes it a tough pool of players to pick from.”

Pope was a shining light in Charlton’s relegation from the Championship two years ago.

Now, he wants to be England’s no1 at the World Cup.

"We are a group, a squad that do get on really well but that helps us push each other every day in training,” Pope said.

"The lads that are playing and not playing, we'll still try and push each other and obviously the end goal is to get in that starting XI for the first game of the World Cup.

"But the bigger picture is the England national team and that's what we really want to push and want to do well."