'Kit's coming home': England World Cup players adopt stray cat Dave from Qatar camp

A cat adopted by the England football team in Qatar will join them as they head back to the UK following their defeat to France in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

England defenders Kyle Walker and John Stones took a shine to the stray, named by the players as Dave, as he joined the team at the training camp.

The Yorkshiremen are both said to be keen on adopting Dave, who is currently being checked by vets and given vaccinations ahead of his seven-hour flight back to the UK, local media reported.

"He was just there one day so we’ve just adopted him, me and Stonesy," Walker told the English FA's official media channel.

"Dave is welcome to the table... Some people really don't like the cat, but I love him."

Fellow Manchester City defender Stones said Dave appeared at the England camp on day one, and soon became a part of the squad, joining them for team dinners. 

"Every night he's sat there waiting for his food," Stones said.

Dave was reportedly involved in a cat fight with another feline, hours before England's heated battle on the pitch with France.

"Dave’s fine, thank you for asking," Walker told journalists.

France will play Morocco in the semi-final of the World Cup on Wednesday.