IDRIS El Mizouni has described how playing five-a-side football in the Paris suburbs during his younger years helped him become a better footballer.

The 23-year-old midfielder was born in Paris and grew up in the French capital, prior to joining the Ipswich Town academy.

He believes that the football experiences of his upbringing aided him as a player both mentally and technically.

READ ALSO: Idris El Mizouni talks midfield battle, playing style and joining the U’s

“In Paris, you have the suburbs. A lot of people live in estates with big blocks. In the middle of it, you have a five-a-side area where everyone goes and plays for free,” El Mizouni said.

“You don’t have to pay for it, and I think that helps a lot. When you’re young, you play against older people and you can play against anyone.

“It’s very competitive and I think it makes people mentally stronger because you want to win, and technically, it’s a very tight space.

“It’s very different to someone playing in an academy, where they learn just the basic stuff. I think it’s helped a lot of Parisian players.”

A range of former neighbours from El Mizouni’s estate growing up have gone on to forge professional careers in the game, including ex-Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

El Mizouni said: “Tristan Muyumba who plays for Atlanta [United] in the USA, which is good, and Samuel Moutoussamy from Nantes, and Allan Saint-Maximin didn’t live too far from where I lived. Probably only five or 10 minutes. We had a few, but not a lot.”

Oxford United’s summer signing has one cap for Tunisia, with that coming in a 2-0 friendly win against Iraq in June 2019.

Discussing his international hopes, El Mizouni said: “I’d love to be back with the Tunisian squad obviously, but I’m trying not to think about it, and just to play my game.

“I know if I play my game and do well, it will come naturally. I don’t want to think that I have to be in the national squad because the most important thing right now is to play with Oxford and do well in the Championship.

“The Championship is well watched around the world, and it’s a very competitive league with some massive teams, so hopefully that will help.”

He added: “I was born in Paris, and my dad was born in Tunisia. I came to Ipswich when I was 16 or 17, and since then I’ve never had a permanent move, only a few loans.

“I’m ready for a fresh start and I think I need it. I need a new home where I can settle, and hopefully play games and do well for the club.”