BRITAIN is “pretty close” to having its own NFL franchise, Los Angeles Rams tight end Lance Kendricks told the Star yesterday.

As it stands, the NFL currently plays three games a season at Wembley Stadium and Twickenham, with that increasing to four from 2018 — two at Wembley and two at Tottenham’s new stadium.

A permanent team in Britain seems like the next logical step, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan saying that he has been “clear about my commitment to bringing an NFL franchise to London, which will further enhance the capital’s global status.”

Kendricks played at Wembley back in 2012 for the Rams and has seen the sport grow over the past few years.

Given the growing interest in the sport — the games at Wembley this year sold out within hours — an NFL spokesman said at the start of the year that London could well see a team within six years.

Kendricks wouldn’t be drawn on a date but agreed that there is a clear passion for the NFL in Britain and that a London team will happen sooner rather than later.

He said: “I think you guys are pretty close.

“We played a few years ago against the [New England] Patriots and it was growing. Now when I come out here, people know the game, it’s like night and day.

“I think the sport has progressed so much further from a few years ago, it’s on the rise, and hopefully there is a team out here soon.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars have become the adopted team of Britain, having played at Wembley every year since 2013, and running back Denard Robinson agreed that it would be “a good idea” for London to have its own NFL team.

The former university quarterback added that it would be seen as “an advantage for the team from London so it would be fun to see what happens.”