Saints left-back Luke Shaw still cannot quite believe he has been selected for England's World Cup squad.

The 18-year-old admitted when he heard about Ashley Cole's retirement from international football on Sunday and did not receive a phone call, he presumed he had been left out.

And although he had confirmation he was on the plane to Brazil the following day he still finds himself pinching himself.

"I seriously can't believe it still," said the youngster who is the subject of a £27m bid from Manchester United.

"When I found out Ashley Cole wasn't going I had that thought it could be me going but I didn't want to over-think saying 'I am definitely going' because I didn't receive anything that night.

"I thought everyone was getting a phone call on Sunday night and I was speaking with Ads (Adam Lallana) and Lambo (Rickie Lambert) asking if they had got one and once it went past 10pm none of us had had the call so we thought we were among the seven not going.

"When the squad came out the next afternoon me and my family sat there thinking 'I'm 18 and I'm going to a World Cup'.

"Four years ago I was sat at home watching it on my sofa. It is going to be so weird."

Shaw went on: "I am still shocked that I am actually going.

"You always had that thought in your head that you might be picked because Roy (Hodgson) was watching a lot of our games, not just for me of course.

"But I wasn't expecting it. I thought I might be in the 30-man squad so to represent my country at a World Cup when I am only 18 is the best feeling in the world and I want more of it.

An in interview on Saints Player, he added: "Time flies. A year ago I made my Under-21 debut and now I'm going to a World Cup. Things can happen so fast.

"I am going to pray I don't get injured so I can be on that plane to Brazil."