He was always destined to wear the England shirt - as this photo proves.

Jarrad Branthwaite today received his first England Under-21 call-up.

And it came many years after the Everton and PSV Eindhoven star wore the Three Lions...as a toddler at home in Wigton.

The picture of a two-year-old Jarrad in his England kit, back in 2004, was shared with the News & Star by his proud family.

The football-mad Cumbrian youngster went on to make the professional grade with Carlisle United, going on to sign for Premier League club Everton, where he won England Under-20 honours.

READ MORE: Two Cumbrians named in England Under-21 squad

At 18, he was setting his sights on an Under-21 call-up, as dad Paul told us two years ago after Jarrad's first-team breakthrough at Everton.

“When the Under-21 squad came out a few months ago, he did say he had a look,” Paul said in November 2020. “I said, ‘One day, pal...'

"The fact he’s thinking about it shows where his mindset is. He believes he can do it."

The defender has now indeed made that step up, named in Lee Carsley's squad for Under-21 friendlies against France and Croatia - with the chance of playing in this summer's European Under-21 Championships also within reach.

After that, can the toddler with an England dream eventually go on to wear the Three Lions at full international level?