WHEN Danny Rose leaves the home dressing room on Friday as part of the England squad that will take on Australia at the Stadium of Light, he will be able to reflect on just how far his career has come.

Three years ago, in May 2013, Rose made the final appearance of his season-long loan at Sunderland in a 1-1 draw with Southampton. In total, he made 27 starts for the Black Cats, slotting in at left-back to replace Kieran Richardson, who was sold to Fulham, but while he finished the 2012-13 season as Sunderland’s Young Player of the Year, he returned to his parent club, Tottenham, unsure of what his future would hold.

Fast forward three seasons, and rather than being a callow youngster desperate for a chance to prove himself at White Hart Lane, Rose finds himself firmly established as one of the leading left-backs in the Premier League, with his name pencilled in for a starting spot in England’s opening Euro 2016 game against Russia in two-and-a-half weeks’ time.

The 25-year-old also spent time on loan at Watford, Peterborough and Bristol City during his formative years, but he cites his spell on Wearside as the period that really made him.

His affinity for Sunderland was underlined by his presence as a spectator at the 3-0 win over Everton that confirmed the club’s Premier League survival earlier this month, and if he is selected for his fourth cap on Friday, it will be all the more special for coming at the Stadium of Light.

“Four months ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be here today doing this,” said Rose. “It’s still pretty surreal, I just want to enjoy the experience.

“When the last World Cup was on, I was on holiday in Barbados. I’m still quite new to the set up, and it was brilliant for me to be able to play (against Turkey). It’s a real privilege to be here.”

Rose is one of two left-backs named in Roy Hodgson’s provisional squad for the Euros, so the Doncaster-born defender finds himself in a direct shoot-out with Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand for a starting place in England’s Group B opener in Marseille.

They will both be involved at some stage during the two remaining warm-up matches, so with Rose having started against Turkey, Bertrand could get the nod on Friday night. As things stand, though, it the Spurs man who appears to be winning the race to face Russia.

It is unusual to have two players battling for one position in the England side, neither of whom is even remotely established in the role, but Rose insists his close friendship with Bertrand will make it easier for whoever is eventually forced to miss out this summer.

“We first met at England Under-17s,” said Rose. “I see him away from football as well, albeit mainly in nightclubs. I’m lucky that I’m able to fight this out with him.

“He’s probably one of my closest friends here. I’ve known him for a long time, I eat dinner with him and I spend a lot of spare time with him as well. It’s brilliant – I wouldn’t want to be up against anyone else.

“It’s not a weird situation to be in because I’m not just saying it, we are really good friends. We have a laugh, and I don’t find any of this weird. Strangely enough, if I was to lose out Ryan, obviously I’d be gutted, but I wouldn’t have any ill-feeling towards him. I’d be cheering him on every step of the way.”

Rose left the Etihad Stadium on Sunday clutching the Man of the Match award after ITV co-commentator Glenn Hoddle selected him as the game’s stand-out performer.

Hoddle went for Rose even though he was at fault as Turkey claimed a first-half equaliser through Hakan Calhanoglu, and even the full-back himself admitted he was fortunate to win the award.

“I think I was a bit lucky considering I put myself at fault for the first goal,” said Rose. “I feel as if I did a lot better in the second half, and we won the game, but I was up against a very good player, as you will be at international level.

“It was one of the toughest games I’ve had this season, and I blame myself for the first goal, but the lads helped me keep my head up for the rest of the game and I feel I did better in the second half.”

Nevertheless, with Turkey having continued to create chances, Rose accepts England will have to improve defensively if they are to improve on their wretched recent record at major competitions.

“I don’t think they (Turkey) had to work too hard in the chances they created,” he said. “We could easily have avoided it. They were pretty direct, but the manager said he wanted us to make first and second contact with the long balls.

“We’ll work again on the training field, and we’ve got a couple of weeks before the big game against Russia. We’ll look to put everything right in the next two friendlies.”