Tuesday 14 April 2015 07:26, UK
Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand is determined to impress England boss Roy Hodgson and move up the international pecking order.
Despite a fine season in the Premier League, Bertrand was initially overlooked by Hodgson for his squads against Lithuania and Italy last month, with Kieran Gibbs, Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw selected.
Former Saints full-back Shaw was forced out of the squad, but it was Tottenham's Danny Rose who replaced him, with Bertrand only getting the nod for the trip to Turin when Baines withdrew.
Bertrand won his third cap in that friendly, playing the last few minutes of the 1-1 draw, and he is keen to continue impressing in the top division to put pressure on those competing for the No 3 shirt, which is one of England's stronger positions.
"It was different," he said. "The international break changed from one extreme to the next, but it was good to get back in the frame and get back in the door.
"It was good to get on the pitch, even though it was very brief.
"When you actually sit there, it hits you that all them years you spent as a kid watching football games, the England games were always the biggest.
"To finally sit there and be part of it and wear the actual kit and everything, knowing the whole country is cheering you on is fantastic."
With West Ham's Aaron Cresswell also being talked of as a potential England international of the future, Bertrand knows he has to continue to knuckle down if he is to build an international career the likes of previous left-back Ashley Cole, a former team-mate of his at Chelsea.
"You know, it's down to (the manager)," Bertrand added. "Whoever he wants to pick, it is his decision.
"I'll just concentrate on my game. I'm confident enough to know that I should be in there, but I don't pick the team so I'll just keep playing."
