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England did not want Che Adams and for 45 minutes on Monday his adopted nation Scotland did not appear overly keen, either.

Given their courtship of the 24-year-old dates back to 2017, Steve Clarke's decision to name him on the bench against Czech Republic — belatedly introducing him at half-time — was like arriving at the church, then driving around the block a few more times.

The manager wanted to reward those who had got Scotland to Euro 2020 by starting with them in the Group D opener. Adams, recruited in March thanks to the old 'Granny Rule', missed out.  

Che Adams (right) was surprisingly named on the bench for Scotland's Euro 2020 opener

Adams (right) was a half-time switch in the Scots' 2-0 loss to the Czech Republic in Glasgow

After a 2-0 defeat, Clarke will not make the same mistake on Friday. He needs his Englishman to down the English. Any previous loyalties will be forgotten — he will be hoping the same goes for his striker.

Adams has appeared twice for England, albeit at Under 20 level, when a certain Ben Chilwell was his captain. 

Stepping out at Wembley, then, may be tinged with a thought of 'What if?' for the Leicester-born frontman. Then again, his entire career has been a series of sliding doors moments.

Aged 16, it was the doors of two buses and a train that were opening for Adams at 6.30am every day, as he travelled 30 miles from his family home in Leicester to complete a BTEC course as part of his scholarship with Northern Premier League outfit Ilkeston — where he earned £40 a week. 

Adams is in line to face England on Friday - the striker played for the Three Lions U20s side

Kevin Wilson, former Chelsea striker and team-mate of Clarke at Stamford Bridge, was the manager.

'Getting from Leicester to Ilkeston isn't easy, but Che was there at 9am without fail for training or his education,' he says. 

'That tells you how badly he wanted it. He had been rejected by Coventry and that drove him on.'

Adams made his Ilkeston debut at 17 and there is a touch of footballing fate in the identity of the opposition — Stocksbridge Park Steels, the club where Jamie Vardy began his remarkable career.

Not that Adams looked set for the non-scenic route after being signed by Coventry aged seven. They liked him enough to invest another seven years in the youngster, only to release him at 14. One club eventually took a chance — Oadby Town of the 10th tier, where he scored five goals in 33 matches as a 16-year-old. 

Adams (left) began his football journey in non-league with Oadby Town and Ilkeston

There were more trial days, including at Leicester City where a door opened that would lead Adams into the professional game. But not with Leicester, whose impeccable talent spotting failed them on this occasion. Rather, it was Wilson who left their Belvoir Drive training ground not quite believing what he had seen.

'I saw the raw talent straight away. He was the only one who stood out,' says the 60-year-old, himself a scorer of 42 league goals for Chelsea. 

'It's not often you get a 'wow' feeling, but Che gave me that.'

Ilkeston enjoyed Adams for one season, with his mother and brother invariably on the touchline, and it climaxed in them lifting the Derbyshire Senior Cup. 

The 24-year-old  (right) was rejected by Leicester but is now competing alongside them

Team-mates used to joke that every goal was adding a zero to his asking price. 

The scouts and agents watching Adams were soon outnumbering spectators and the kid who had cost Ilkeston nothing was the subject of a £135,000 offer from Sheffield United in 2014.

Two years at Bramall Lane — where he kept Dominic Calvert-Lewin out of the side — brought 15 goals and a £2million move to Birmingham City. 

Southampton invested £15m two years ago to take him to the Premier League. 

Adams then earned a move to Sheffield United where he kept Dominic Calvert-Lewin benched

There was talk of an England call-up following a flurry of goals last autumn to take Saints to the top of the table, but his team-mates on the south coast are now calling him 'Che McAdams' following his switch of allegiance.

And so to the international stage of Euro 2020 this week, only to find his part reduced to understudy —to the shock of a nation, and Wilson.

'I was surprised,' he says. 'I know what it's like being a manager. You pick the side you think is right. 

'Unfortunately, it didn't work out. But you could see the impact Che made when he came on. There was no chance he would sulk. He hasn't changed since he was a boy. He's still the same level-headed guy, a little bit shy.

'He'll be desperate to start at Wembley. He's made a career out of proving himself to people.' 

Adams earned a spot at Scotland due to his grandmother and a good Southampton season