Upson hits the big-time

The Birmingham defender performed creditably in England's 2-1 win over Slovakia to end an amazing season for the 24-year-old.

Until he was sold to Birmingham in January, where he made an immediate impression in helping the Blues to Barclaycard Premiership survival, he had been a fringe player at Arsenal. But many regard his departure from Highbury as a reason why the Gunners blew the title race and Upson has now ended the season playing in his first senior competitive match for England.

He said: "It was the biggest game of my career so far and once you taste a game like that it's difficult not to want more. That's something I have got to keep aiming for and working for.

"It was very enjoyable against Slovakia and thankfully it turned out to be a good result and I was pleased with how I performed - I felt I didn't look out of place.

"I got a great deal of satisfaction from the match, made a couple of very important tackles, and it was nice to show people what I'm capable of doing."

Whether that was a reference to Arsene Wenger only Upson knows, but he knows that the real test comes now - keeping his place in the squad when Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Sol Campbell return from injury.

Upson added: "Of course I have still got a lot of hard work ahead of me. I have to keep improving if I am going to make progress and that is especially true at England level.

"It has been a huge learning process. Being with the national team is a bit like being in a goldfish bowl but that hasn't put me off at all.

"You have to learn to deal with it and I don't have any worries on that front."

Matthew Upson - The Stat Pack 

Nationality: English
Place of Birth: Hartismere, England
Date of Birth: 18 April 1979
Weight: 11 04
Height: 6' 1''
Club: Birmingham City 
Position: Defender