Long: My England experiences will help the Fleet

“Luckily I’ve been in no pain whatsoever.  I can’t put no pressure on it, I can’t walk so that’s why I’ve got the crutches.”

Bromley born, Long progressed through the ranks at Charlton Athletic and was a regular England youth international and appeared for his country at under 15, under 16, under 18 and under 18 levels, and was in the same England under 17 squad as another metatarsal breaker, Wayne Rooney.

“He was obviously a great player,” recalled Long.  “To be honest our age group was really strong and we had a lot of young players aged 16-17 that were playing in first teams.

“Rooney was probably one of the late developers at that year and probably wasn’t playing as much as he liked in that England youth team.

“We went to the under 17 European Championships where he had a great tournament and six months from there – bang – everyone knows about him. He is where he is now.”

As well as being a playmaker, Long also operated as an emergency striker during his time with Charlton’s under 18 side.

But after leaving The Valley a year ago, Long spent last season with Notts County, where he made seven League Two appearances, plus 12 appearances as a substitute and has recently signed for the Fleet after just one season at Meadow Lane.

“I’ve been luckily enough to start at a Premiership club,” he said.  “Having a good few years training with the first team, which obviously has helped my career.

“Like I say, with England I’ve had many trips away, great experience which can hopefully help me push me on now.”

But Long was grateful for his season in Nottingham, gaining valuable first team experience.

“It’s difficult with a Premiership club, there’s so much more money and with young players coming through its difficult, which is fair enough,” he said.

“The move to Notts County was great. I got about 23 appearances there, which I probably wouldn’t have got in another year at Charlton.”

Speaking about his time at Meadow Lane, he said: “We had a good team, we started off brilliantly at the beginning of the season, we were top of the league, flying, and then we got to Christmas and it all seemed to be the other way.

“For me it was a great experience.  I’ve got the league appearances under my belt now and hopefully that will help me in the future.”

Long, although only 21, has plenty of experience, and wants to help Gravesend & Northfleet on the pitch during their Nationwide Conference campaign, which gets underway with a trip to Aldershot Town on 12^th August – once he gets the all clear.

“Being at a young age, having the appearances early benefited me,” he said. 

“When I was at Charlton I was only playing reserve team football so I didn’t have the experience I would have liked.

“So coming here, although I am young, hopefully I can give more communication on the pitch and my good points will come out.

“When I go out on that pitch I’ve got to do everything I can to help the team. So whether that means scoring goals, clearing balls off the line – anything – I’m going to give my all on the pitch.

“I’m coming here as a creative midfielder, but adapt to anything.”

But Long hopes he’ll be back on the pitch very shortly and may even telephone his former England colleague, whose plying his trade in the Premiership.

“They showed me on the screen, it’s more of a chip," he said.  "So hopefully that’s a shorter injury but the doctor said to me everybody’s different so you can’t really give me an exact time frame, he revealed.

“I think I’ve got to borrow that oxygen tank he (Rooney) had.  That’s what the doctor told me as well – get the oxygen tank and you’ll be allright.”

Gravesend & Northfleet, now a full-time outfit, impressed, especially during the first half of their game against League Two side MK Dons last night in their one and only pre-season friendly at Stonebridge Road.

But two goalkeeping howlers from trialist Alan Brookes, a former Millwall goalkeeper, gifted MK Dons two goals, scored by former Tooting & Mitcham United striker John Hastings.

Fleet travel to AFC Hornchurch next Tuesday and Chelmsford City on Friday 4^th August in their last remaining warm-up matches.

But Fleet fans who don’t travel away can see their team in action at Stonebridge Road on Tuesday, 15^th August, when Tamworth visit in their second Nationwide Conference game of the new season.

* Long was talking to Charles Webster, of BBC Radio Kent 96.7FM