Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez says he would have no problems playing a surprise impact role for Spain at this summer's Euro 2016 finals.
Twelve months ago Lucas Vazquez was playing at Espanyol, but he rejoined Real Madrid last summer for €1 million and became a key player in Zinedine Zidane's squad, finishing 2015/16 by netting in the penalty shoot-out against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final.
Although yet to win a senior Spanish cap, the 24-year-old has been included in the 23-man squad for the Euros by La Roja coach Vicente del Bosque, and is expected to make his full international debut in Tuesday evening's final warm-up friendly against Georgia in Getafe.
Lucas Vazquez was asked by Marca if he saw himself playing a similar role to current Chelsea's former Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez -- who was uncapped ahead of the 2010 World Cup but ended up making five appearances at the tournament as Spain won the trophy.
"[Following] Pedro is a lot to ask," Lucas said. "I hope I can help the team in any way I can. I always work hard to play well for Madrid and help the team.
"To come here is a big prize. I saw it as something very difficult, that's the truth. I still have many more dreams to fulfill and many more things to win."
He said that he had not believed the news, when Madrid teammate Alvaro Arbeloa told him he had made Del Bosque's preliminary squad for the summer's tournament.
"I asked [Arbeloa] what he was talking about," he said. "I did not believe him. Then when the final list came out, I knew immediately as the phone kept ringing and getting messages."
Until this year, the former Real Madrid Castilla player was not often tipped as a future international star, with current and past teammates and Spain underage stars such as Jese Rodriguez, Isco and Alvaro Morata getting much more media coverage.
"These are things you cannot control," he said. "The truth is it did not bother me. [Although] it helps you to keep working, improving and the prize is to be here now."
Barca and Spain left-back Jordi Alba was asked about his new international teammate in AS, and said he was looking forward to featuring alongside a player who worked hard in both defence and attack.
"As well as the quality he has and his speed, Lucas's work in both defence and attack stands out," Alba said. "He is a fundamental player for any team, as he can change a game in any moment, whether he starts or comes off the bench. I would like to have Lucas Vazquez on my team."
Alba was with Spain during their disastrous 2014 World Cup campaign, and famously argued heatedly with a reporter at the airport as the squad returned home early after exiting at the group stage. He said it would be very different this summer in France, and he and his teammates had learned from their experience two years ago.
"They are different tournaments," Alba said. "In Brazil we did not play as our fans, and we ourselves, expected. That is in the past now, we must forget it and this will be different.
"The new players are bringing great excitement, the same as those who were already here. The mentality is different.
"In football, as in life, you must stick with the positive things and learn from the negative."