THE road was long and tough for Callum Wilson but in the end he realised his dream of scoring for his country.

Many strikers have worn the England number nine shirt before the Cherries marksman but few will match a determination forged by a series of setbacks since starting out as a schoolboy at his hometown club.

After joining the Coventry set-up as a 12-year-old, Wilson left as he was unable to get a lift to the academy.

Spells in foster care throughout his childhood highlighted an upbringing far from the stability others enjoyed.

He returned to the Sky Blues at 15 but with youth internationals such as Rob Ogleby and Shaun Jeffers on the books, he faced a difficult task.

Coaches had not picked out Wilson as one of the top prospects when he signed as a scholar from his under-16s group.

What many did not take into account was the spirit which would develop in a young man who wanted to provide for his family.

Wilson's courage to overcome two anterior cruciate ligament ruptures while with Cherries has been heralded but his formative years delivered similar challenges.

Injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and ankle problems, would stop many players. Not Wilson.

Despite a first-team debut aged 17 in August 2009, the striker would not play for Coventry again until December 2010.

Temporary spells away from his hometown loomed.

A 17-match period at Kettering in 2011 saw Wilson shunted out to the wing as he scored just one goal in the National League.

The following season he headed north for a short stint with Tamworth.

Back at Coventry and with his contract running down, Wilson had fallen into the void of development squad football.

For once timing was on his side. New manager Steven Pressley saw a spark in Wilson which others had overlooked.

He netted nine goals in his first eight League One games of the 2013-14 season and went on to score 22 in 41 fixtures in all competitions.

A switch to Dorset soon followed and a journey which had veered off course so many times was firmly on the straight and narrow.