Ince on his father, England and Giggs

The name Ince will strike a chord with most football fans but it is Thomas, rather than his father Paul – the former Manchester United FC, Liverpool, FC Internazionale Milano and England midfielder – who is now making waves in European football.

Since leaving Liverpool FC for Blackpool FC in 2011, Ince has made a name for himself in England. The 21-year-old winger is looking forward to returning from suspension to face Norway this evening as Stuart Pearce's men seek to bounce back from a loss to Italy. Ince also had his say on the strength of England's squad, his relationship with his father and his idol.

On England's opening defeat and facing Norway …
It was disappointing and all the lads knew that. At the same time we've got two more games left. We've played Norway before and we know what problems they can cause us, but we've got to play to our strengths and our ability. We need to beat Norway on Saturday. If we can pick up three points then the momentum will be with us when we play the home nation [Israel].

We've worked so hard over the last two years and played so well in games. This is what we've been preparing for but we have to remain positive with a strong mentality. There are strong characters in this team and we'll be ready to go on Saturday.

On his father, Paul Ince …
I've got a double advantage; I've got my manager and my dad at home. Now [since Paul Ince took charge of Blackpool in February 2013] I've got it all in one. As a kid he used to make me cry – if I had a bad game he would get in my face telling me. But that's only going to make you stronger, you're going to have to face critics along the way.

Now we sit down and he'll analyse every part of my game. Even with dinner on the table he's pressing pause, play, pause, play and dinner has to wait. I wouldn't want it any other way. To be in the footsteps of my dad, and to have even half the career he had, takes a lot. Luckily I've got that guidance from him.

Paul Ince (left) at EURO '96©Getty Images

I've always looked up to him. I've been around the world with him to World Cups when he's played and that's made me dream about things like that myself. I don't get as many red cards as him but we are different characters. It helps that I don't play in the same position and my style of play is different. I tell him I'm more creative but he says he still scored more goals with his right foot, left foot, and shows me all his goals online.

There was one time when we went back to San Siro and Ronaldo, the Brazilian Ronaldo, was sat behind us and I asked my dad to get his autograph for me. All of a sudden on the big screen at San Siro was Paul Ince's face rather than Ronaldo's. That was when I knew how much of a big player he was. As I've grown older and seen the England caps [53] he's got and the games he's played, it's a massive achievement not only for him but for the family and his son who's trying to make his way in the game.

Manchester United's Ryan Giggs©AFP/Getty Images

On his idol …
I've always based my game on Ryan Giggs'. At one point he lived with us for five or six months. I was living in the same house as Ryan Giggs, who is my idol and always will be. My game is based on him. I look at him and what he does on the pitch but also the way he keeps himself fit and the things he does. He comes on for Manchester United now and still runs games. That said, I've still got a long way to go and a lot of developing to do, but I'm happy with the two years I've had.

My dad speaks to him nearly every other day, they're still close friends. Whenever I play he [Giggs] will always text me and wish me well. At one point I went through a bad stage at Liverpool and got my head down a little bit so I went and had a chat with him. He sat me down and told me I am still only young and have got a lot of developing to do. Sometimes you're going to be a late developer and it's all about timing, but I'm making a late move at the right time.