VIDEO: Downing ready to fight
By Nicholas Veevers
Wednesday, 31 August, 2011
Liverpool man prepared to compete for his place in the team.
Click here to watch video of the press conference.
With the start of the new international season upon everyone, Stewart Downing was keen to emphasise how important it is to have strong competition for places within the squad.
After a positive start to the new campaign for many of the players in Fabio Capello’s squad, there is a real battle going on within the group to nail down a spot in the starting eleven for the next two games and that’s something which the Liverpool man feels can only be a good thing.
"The competition for places is very strong and I'm sure the Manager likes that as there are a lot of players at the top of their game,” he said ahead of the trip to Sofia for Friday's clash with Bulgaria.
"He's got options now to put players in different positions and in different systems so it's good for the squad and keeps people on their toes and performing, as they know that someone could come in and replace them.
"We have to be ready when called upon. I'm ready and I'm sure the other lads are ready as well.”
The former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough schemer knows that England are in for a testing time in Bulgaria though, with the home side sure to make it difficult in Sofia.
"A lot of people expect us to just go out and win games, but it's not always like that,” he added. “They're going to be tough games, so we have to take each one as it comes and we'll start with Bulgaria.
"There's a lot of players in good form so hopefully we can take that form into an England shirt.”