DUBAI // Around 90 per cent of Dubai residents have at some stage of their lives made the same decision Michael Mancienne did in June 2011. Eighteen months ago the centre-back decided to accept a new challenge, leave his home country and move abroad to further his career.
A year and a half later, the versatile defender, a product of the Chelsea youth academy, has shorn his dreadlocks, can understand German far better than he can speak it and feels perfectly settled plying his trade at Hamburg.
While the 24 year old is confident he has improved as a player and will continue to do so, his concern is that he may struggle to gain the international recognition he feels he deserves.
Mancienne has represented England at every level from Under-16 to Under-21 and was called up by Fabio Capello for a friendly against Germany in 2008, although he remained an unused substitute.
Having moving to the Bundesliga following a three-season loan deal at Wolverhampton Wanderers, he appreciates his ambition has been made all the more difficult.
"I want to be on [the England manager] Roy Hodgson's radar, definitely" Mancienne told The National on the sidelines of Hamburg's recent 2-2 friendly with Borussia Monchengladbach at The Sevens, Dubai.
"If I carry on playing games and playing well, hopefully it will happen because I do want to have that England call up.
"I think it's harder though because there is a lot of focus on the Premier League. The Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world though, so it shouldn't be underestimated. Hopefully it will happen for me."
Regardless, Mancienne says he has no regrets about leaving Stamford Bridge for Germany and is in no rush to return to his homeland.
"I'm a rarity over there, but it's a good feeling," he said.
"I took the risk and I am glad I took it, because I'm really happy. Everybody gets on really well, it feels like a family and I have no thoughts other than continuing to improve at Hamburg."
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