Connor Green gets his chance to shine at a senior major event for the first time after replacing Paul Drinkhall at the upcoming European Championships.

The 18-year-old Green was reserve for the Championships in Linz from October 15-20 and has received the call in place of Drinkhall, who has withdrawn for personal reasons.

He will play in the Men’s Singles, and alongside Hakan Isik of Turkey in the Men’s Doubles.

Drinkhall had been due to play alongside Liam Pitchford, with Sam Walker & Tom Jarvis as the other pair, but the necessary rejig sees Pitchford & Walker as the main English pairing. Jarvis’ recent injury means he is now not playing any doubles.

The squad also includes Tin-Tin Ho, who will play in the Women’s Singles and the Women’s Doubles with Debora Vivarelli of Italy.

In the Mixed, Paris Olympians Pitchford & Anna Hursey of Wales continue their partnership, with Walker & Ho also competing.

Green, who has played at senior level on the WTT circuit – picking up a couple of great victories at the WTT Feeder Manchester in February – says he is excited but nervous about the prospect of competing at his first major championships.

“I’m just trying to think about being as relaxed as possible when I’m playing, try not to put too much pressure or let myself get too tense, and try and just play free and try and take my game to whoever I might be playing.

“I’m quite nervous as well because it’s my first time representing England at Senior level, so I’m nervous but I’m also excited to try and have a big performance.

“But then if it doesn’t happen, then I’ll just try and use it as an experience to hopefully get selected another time.”

Green was speaking at the Elite Training Centre in Sheffield, where he is at the final preparation camp with his team-mates.

He added: “It’s really good. Those guys have been to many European Championships before, and they obviously know how it feels to enter the court and feel the pressure as well. It’s good to be alongside them getting ready for the championships.

“[I’d like to] learn what I can from different people, being around the boys, seeing what they’re doing before tournaments and before matches, just trying to learn as much as possible and try and enjoy it as well.”

Watch Connor’s table tennis story

If you missed it, check out our TT Insider film charting Connor’s rise in the sport, directed by his friend Naphat Boonyaprapa.