West Brom: Craig Dawson on his rapid rise to Premier League football

Sep 18 2011 by Gregg Evans, Sunday Mercury

THREE seasons ago Craig Dawson was an unknown rookie playing non-league football.

Now the 21-year-old Albion star has his own framed England shirt and newspaper clippings as a reminder of his rapid rise.

Earlier this month the centre-half scored two goals as the U21s beat Azerbaijan and yesterday he made his Premier League bow against Swansea.

It’s been an incredible journey so far and one that the whole-hearted defender is hoping can long continue.

“I can still remember making my debut for Rochdale, it was a brilliant feeling,” he said.

“I was over the moon to become a professional footballer, and I still am to be honest.

“Every day you have got to make the most of it.

“It was great to finally get my first Albion start against Bournemouth as well.

“It was a good match and we did well as a team because we worked hard to get the result.

“For England it was a great thrill to represent my country.

“I’ve kept a lot of the paper cuttings to go with the shirt too, it was a special day.”

Dawson’s first-team opportunites at The Hawthorns have come a little earlier than expected due to Gabriel Tamas’ three-game suspension.

A host of Championship clubs had been interested in taking the 6ft 3in youngster but Roy Hodgson has no plans to let him go.

The tough tackler, who was playing UniBond League semi-professional football for Radcliffe Borough just over two years ago, has been tipped to shine in the future, and is part of a large group of English talent coming through.

The likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling – a defender who has emerged from a similar path as Dawson – are players that have stepped up after just a couple of seasons in the top flight.

Dawson admits that it’s hard not to look up to the Manchester United duo because they are shining examples of how to build a successful career.

“They’re both doing well, they’re settled, they’ve got their heads down and they’re pushing for places in the first team,” he added,