ADAM Harris could not hide his excitement at his maiden Great Britain call-up for the European Championships in Croatia.

The 26-year-old forward, from Weston-on-the-Green, was named in the 19-strong GB squad for the tournament in Opatija, Croatia after impressing with Oxford Blues in BIHSA Division 1 South East.

He said: “I was playing for Oxford against the GB coach and he said to me afterwards to come for a trial, so I did.

“It’s a huge honour and a great achievement for me to represent my country. It’s incredibly exciting.”

The team opened their campaign yesterday against the Netherlands, giving Harris a first taste of international hockey, also facing encounters with highly-fancied Germany and Ukraine.

Harris is no stranger to big games, having previously earned a bronze medal with the Blues at the European Junior Championships in Switzerland.

But he admitted that playing at international level was an altogether more daunting prospect.

“I’m just trying to treat it as another game of hockey,” he said.

“I think it’s only once I get home that it’ll really sink in that I’ve played for Great Britain.

“I’ve played in national finals before, so I’m used to big games.

“Obviously you do get nervous, but you just have to try and keep calm and not think about the occasion.

“Those were big games, but this is another step-up entirely.”