Rising Albion star Jake Forster-Caskey is hoping to help England clinch a place in the Euro finals today.

But, if he plays for the under-21s in their play-off in Croatia, he will hope it does not have any repercussions – albeit short-lived – to his progress with Albion.

Forster-Caskey stands a great chance of starting today’s second leg in Vinkovci to decide which of the two nations goes to the Euros in the Czech Republic next summer.

The Seagulls midfielder earned plenty of praise for his efforts alongside Tom Carroll in the engine room as England won their home leg 2-1 at Molineux.

It was only his second start for the under-21s. And he still recalls what happened after the first, when he was rested for the next league game.

That defeat at Brentford remains the only league match for which he has not been selected this season.

He also missed the draw at Watford through suspension.

Forster-Caskey’s stepfather Nicky Forster is thrilled to see him pull on the England shirt.

But the former Seagulls skipper admits it does not put club football in the shade.

Forster said: “Club and international football are very different kinds of pressures.

“It’s easy to criticise players for putting clubs before country.

“But, if you look at what happened last time Jake played for the under-21s, he came back and was left out by Brighton.

“He got back in for the next game but he was really disappointed to be left out.

“You always have this debate about club versus country and you really want to play football when you are 19 or 20.

“But you also want to be playing in front of your own club’s fans.

“You don’t want that to pass you by just because you have played for your country.

“Jake will hopefully make a career playing league football at club level.

“He wants to be playing regularly in the Championship.

“It’s a privilege and an honour to play for England but players also love playing for their club.”

England trailed at half-time in the home leg and, although Harry Kane and Saido Berhino scored in the second period, they will need to improve today (5pm BST).

The squad were given time off on Saturday afternoon and told by boss Gareth Southgate to get away from their working environment at St George’s Park.

Southgate was keen for them to enjoy a break in the middle of a physically and mentally demanding ten-day period.

Forster-Caskey was among those who took the chance to play golf at The Belfry.

Then it was back to business – and an assessment of where they needed to improve on their efforts at Molineux on Friday.

Forster said: “I think they are very honest with themselves.

“They couldn’t quite get going in the first half.

“Jake played a defensive role. He didn’t have many attacking positions but he mopped up well and he made a number of tackles.

“Certainly in the second half he had a steady game.

“I think the second leg will be quite cagey.

“Croatia are no mugs. They are a better team than they were perhaps given credit for going into the tie.”