For many years it appeared that James Milner was destined to remain at under-21 level until he was over-age, before disappearing from the international scene altogether.

He holds the record for most caps won with the u21s, and the old adage that if you are good enough, you're old enough, played against him as he was continuously overlooked for the full side.

That soon changed as Aston Villa started flying high in the league with Milner proving a key component in their attacking fluency.

The 23-year-old Yorkshire-man could be in line to make a dream national team debut against Spain tomorrow, and hopes his presence in the full squad, together with his club form, is no flash in the pan.

"Ive played for England at various levels and hopefully I will get on the pitch at some point," he explained to the Birmingham Mail. "It is great to be here. I have got to go out there and prove that I should be here. I want to stay in there.

"I have been playing all this time and the aim was to play for England. Now to finally get the chance to meet up with the squad, and to train with players who I have watched for years, is great.

"I am enjoying my football at the moment and hopefully I will keep improving and keep learning. To get this call-up and play with the players here is great. It is now about me going out there and proving that."

Milner went on to pay tribute to club boss Martin O'Neill who, he claims, knows how to get the best out of each of his footballers, and get them playing and gelling well as a team unit.

When Martin O'Neill first saddled up at the midlands club there were zero representatives on the English stage, yet six were recently called up to Fabio Capello's latest squad.

"You can see from Martin ONeills track record how well he has done with players, the players he has brought on.

"During my first spell with Villa, Gabby Agbonlahor was in and out of the team but you look at how much he has come on since, how much more he has added to his game.

"Thats no fluke," he added. "That is obviously down to the manager and his staff and the players at Villa.

"It is obviously a great club to be playing at at the moment. I am enjoying my football and am lucky enough to be part of that.

Milner believes that the key to their success this season has been the enjoyment of their brand of football.

"You can see from the run we have been on this season that if you are enjoying your football you will play your best football. We have been doing that."

James Milner received an astonishing 40 caps at under-21 level, scoring eight times.