THOSE voyages across the North Sea from Rotterdam to Hull were always exciting for Lewis Holtby as a boy.

He would visit grandparents in Beverly for Christmas and there would be trips up to Hexham to see more family.

Just under three weeks ago he made that same journey again, this time driving across the Pennines to sign for Blackburn.

And this time it felt like a homecoming.

The midfielder captained Germany’s Under-21s alongside Mezut Ozil and won three full caps, but always yearned to be more of a Brit.

Now the son of an RAF serviceman has his wish.

He will not be tucking into the traditional bacon butties or bangers and mash — he is now a vegan.

But he is determined to tackle the full English.

Holtby, born and brought up in the Rhineland town of Erkelenz near where his father was stationed, said: “I’m such a split person.

“There was always something in my heart that loved English football, the English nature, the banter.

“I was brought up in Germany but basically because of my dad I was brought up ‘English’ in a German environment. I always had an eagerness to have more British in me, of living it more.

“So here, now, I feel very comfortable — the people, the way they talk, things in the street, the television, sometimes the food as well!

“My mum and dad are very happy for me, they could sense that feeling in me, they could sense I really wanted to make this journey.”

Holtby’s career has taken him to England before, of course. He joined Tottenham from Schalke for £1.5million in January 2013 but was back in Germany with Hamburg 18 months later.

He played 42 games for Spurs and was also loaned out to Fulham.

He said: “I was too naive, too impatient in those days.

“I struggled for game time and was a bit homesick too.

“Now, after five years at Hamburg, I feel I am of the age to understand the game better, to understand England better.

“Making that trip over on the ferry to Hull this time felt so special, like when I was a boy. That was our route at Christmas every year.

“Coming over this time I felt like that little boy again, they are brilliant memories.

“There is also the question of unfinished business here in England.

“I have no bitterness or regrets about my time at Tottenham alongside the likes of Harry Kane, Kyle Walker and Christian Eriksen.

“I just couldn’t compute that I was in a big, competitive squad up against a lot of very good players.

“Now the dream is to be playing against Tottenham in the Premier League, to be a success in England this time."

Once Holtby decided to quit Hamburg there were plenty of suitors from the Premier League and Championship.

But the 29-year-old stressed: “I spoke with Tony Mowbray many times about the plans this club has.

“He is my manager now because I know that this club is on its own special journey.

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