KEY POINTS:
Chris James turned down the chance of wearing England colours again but got the senior international debut young players can only dream about.
After being forced to sit out early matches against Hungary, Georgia and Estonia on the All Whites' European tour last year, James gained his Fifa clearance and three days later was able to pull on an All Whites shirt for the last 10 minutes of Brazil's sole pre-World Cup outing in Geneva.
The England under-16, 17 and 18 player is now preparing to play for New Zealand in their first game of the Oceania under-20 championships against the Solomon Islands at Trusts Stadium today.
And that's just the start.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has already flagged the 19-year-old as a certainty in the 2010 World Cup squad who kick-off that campaign this year. He will also be a key player in the New Zealand under-23 team's bid for a place at next year's Olympics.
At the moment though his focus is on the business at hand.
"I want to help the under-20s win through to the world championships in Canada," said James. "I think we are capable of winning the Oceania tournament."
James became part of the senior national side last year but he had made his mark much earlier.
Born in Lower Hutt, he played his early football there and in the Manawatu before spending six months at Mt Albert Grammar under academy coach Kevin Fallon.
"That was invaluable. He basically prepared me for going to England," said James. "He hardened me up for the physical nature of the football over there."
With his English mother keen to return to her homeland, the family headed away.
As a 13-year-old, he had a two-week trial at Fulham. That quickly became four. Just as quickly, he was signed to a two-year schoolboy deal.
"Initially we trained three days a week after school and played a game on Saturday or Sunday," said James. "Six months into that contract they offered me a scholarship."
He was soon called into training camps with the England under-15 squad and then progressed to playing in the three age-group sides.
It mirrored the route taken a few years earlier by Rory Fallon.
Unlike Fallon, who opted to continue chasing his English dream, James considered his options, talked it through with his parents and, following an approach from Herbert, decided to go the Kiwi way.
"I saw it as the chance to expose myself to international football," said James. "The coaches at Fulham were and continue to be fully supportive.
"It was not a tough decision. Probably the best I have made looking forward. I feel I'm a born-and-bred New Zealander."
James, who has All White colleague Simon Elliott at Fulham, is enjoying his footballing life in England and dismisses any suggestion of returning to join Herbert at the New Zealand Knights.
"I like living in England and enjoy the lifestyle but I will always be available for any New Zealand team who wants me."
There will be no shortage of those.
