Alfie Mawson reveals how Gareth Southgate told him to leave Swansea

Alfie Mawson has revealed how Gareth Southgate told him he had to leave Swansea if he wanted to be called up for England.

Mawson was part of the Swansea side that were relegated to the Championship last season before joining Fulham for £20million in the summer.

The 24-year-old defender was told by Southgate, who on Thursday names his side for games against Spain and Switzerland, that he needed to be playing in the Premier League to be considered for selection.

Mawson said: ‘The last time I spoke to him I was at Swansea in the thick of things in the relegation battle and he said realistically if you want to get back into it obviously the Premier League is a must.

‘My first and foremost thing is to get into this side and I’m sure if I do well and I play well then Gareth will make a decision. I respect whatever decision he makes but I’ve had a taste for it and I would like to get the full thing.’

Gary Cahill’s admission that he no longer wants to be selected for England has also given Mawson a boost.

He played 75 minutes in Fulham’s Carabao Cup second round win over Exeter on Tuesday but knows he need to get into Slavisa Jokanovic’s Premier League side before thinking more about England.

He said: 'I’m not going to get picked for England if I’m not even in the starting XI for the Prem side.

‘So, for me, that’s the most important thing and whatever I can do on top of that then fantastic. It’s always an honour to get called up whatever age group for your country.

‘But at the moment I’m in no rush for that one. My main aim is to get into the side and cement my position there.’

Mawson is also keen on building a central defensive partnership with Calum Chambers after he joined on loan from Arsenal. Mawson and Chambers played together in the European Under-21 Championship in Poland as England reached the semi-finals for the first time in four attempts.

The pair were picked impressed during the tournament, keeping out Rob Holding and Jack Stephens out of the side.

Mawson added: ‘I know Calum from the England under-21s. We played in Europe together in Poland for the Euros last summer. We’re really good pals and we’ve got a really good understanding and friendship off the pitch which comes onto the pitch because Cal’s such a fantastic player.

‘He’s more of a technical player than myself. Normally I’m more of a talker and I think we work really well like we did for England and whatever the gaffer wants to do we’ll respect [that] if he does it with me and Cal then we’ve got that understanding straightaway and it’s always helpful to have that.’