Matt Jarvis had to call his parents' favourite restaurant to tell them he'd been called up by England.
The pair, former table tennis champions Nick and Linda, were not at their Guildford home and did not have mobile phones with them.
Jarvis, in the squad for Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff and the friendly with Ghana at Wembley on March 29, said: "I couldn't get hold of my parents.
"I eventually phoned a restaurant where I thought they would be and fortunately they were there so I was able to tell them the news. Like every player, it has been a dream of mine to play for England and getting into the squad takes me one step closer."
The 24-year-old has been named in a couple of provisional squads already this season but failed to make the final cut.
However, with Arsenal's Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson, of Manchester City, both missing, Fabio Capello has given Jarvis the chance to compete for starting spots with Aaron Lennon and Ashley Young. If he plays, Jarvis will become the first Wolves play to win a full cap since Steve Bull in October 1990.
Lennon is included for the first time since England's last qualifier, against Montenegro in October.
However, more notable is the return of new Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, who impressed Capello when he made his debut in the friendly defeat to France in November.
The £35million forward missed last month's encounter with Denmark due to a thigh injury but the England coach always made it clear Carroll would return once he had regained his fitness.
