Lennon in dreamland as World Cup beckons

LONDON, May 6 (Reuters) Tottenham Hotspur's teenage sensation Aaron Lennon has found himself overwhelmed by speculation that he might be part of England's World Cup squad as he has hardly got used to playing in the Premier League.

Lennon, who turned 19 last month, has emerged as everybody's favourite dark horse for Sven-Goran Eriksson's party for Germany, despite never previously appearing in a full senior squad.

The winger's priceless attribute of searing pace, together with terrific ball control and the ability to provide a pinpoint cross, makes him the sort of player that Eriksson could just take a chance on.

Lennon, however, is struggling to take it all in.

''Everything's happened so quickly for me, it's unbelievable,'' he told journalists this week.

''What has happened to me is almost too fantastic to be true.

The World Cup? I never imagined I might be part of it. I'd love to go, what footballer wouldn't? But everything has moved on so quickly for me that it's difficult to take in the possibility.

''I have just been trying to do my best for Spurs and only ever thought I would watch the World Cup on television.'' Lennon joined Spurs from Leeds United last July having become the Premier League's youngest player when he made his Leeds debut against his current club in August 2003 at the age of 16 years 121 days.

He got an unexpectedly early opportunity at Spurs after Wayne Routledge cracked a bone in his foot at Portsmouth in the first game of the season and has been in and around the first team ever since.

''You quickly learn that you have to take opportunities when they arise,'' he said.

With Wayne Rooney likely to miss the World Cup and Michael Owen battling to get back to form after his broken toe, the door could yet open for Lennon.

''I remember as a kid watching Michael and that stunning solo goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. They (Owen and Rooney) were both 18, younger than me now, and they set the world alight.

''I'm not saying for one minute that I could ever make the same impact but obviously it would be a dream come true to go to Germany and then maybe come off the bench and help swing a result.

''My life is amazing. It's seems no time at all since I was kicking a ball around in the streets of Leeds with my brother.'' REUTERS VJ RN0132