Q You’re coming in for an injured player but after your performance against France in Euro 2004 do you feel you have nothing to prove to anyone?

A “ You know, the way it went against France people was wondering if I was
good enough at the level. But I proved that in that game. I’ve not done it
on a consistent basis yet, there’s still lots for me to prove and if I get
the chance that’s my next aim.”

Q How comfortable did you feel coming into a midfield role on Saturday?

A “Yes, not too bad. I spoke to the manager before the game and he mentioned that. So I knew before hand. It’s something I had done for a little while so I was quite comfortable with it.”

Q Is it ironic you said you didn’t want to play that role at Tottenham but now it is going to give you your England chance?

A “Yes. It’s great to be in the squad, I’ve missed the last few squads as
well so it’s great to be back in. To get on the pitch is great for me also.
If I can do that by playing different positions I’m happy to do that.”

Q Nicky Butt played the defensive midfield role well in the last World Cup, do you think it could work for you?

A “Possibly. People said they could see me in that position doing a good job
so it’s something I have to think about. It’s something I will speak to the
manager and something I’ll work with.”

Q How much different is it to centre-back?

A “It’s quite a bit different.  Playing at the back you see everything in
front of you, playing in midfield you receive the ball from the back. You
have your back to the play which never really happens as a defender, but
it’s something I have done a few times in my career so far and I’ve quite
enjoyed it so I haven’t got a problem.”

Q Jamie Carragher said with the quality of centre-halves he felt was never going to break up the other three. Do you feel the same? Or are you good enough to break them up?

A “It’s not for me to say. All I can do is keep playing as well as I can.
It’s for other people to judge that. If I keep playing well for my club and
if I get the chance with my country to play at the back and leave it to
other people to judge.

Q But the competition is strong?

A “Yes, it’s good for English football. If we’re pushing each other on to be
better players it can only be a good thing. Competition is fierce all over
the place and it can only be good.”

Q Are you excited by all the young English players at Tottenham? Can they come through and make an impact?

A “That’s what we’re hoping. We have looked around the squad and seen a lot of good young talent. The next thing is to develop that into the potential
that we should. That’s going to be the tough part but if we keep stick
together, work hard and learning from each other that’s what we’re hoping.”

Q We’ve qualified, how well can we reasonably expect to do next summer?

A “We set out what we wanted to do, we’ve qualified. From now it will be a
build up. Players will be back at their clubs trying to keep their form
going and trying to make the squad at the world cup. We realise we have
great potential in the squad. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and a
bit of luck but we’ll give it a go obviously and we believe we can do it.”

Q With someone like Jermaine Jenas in the squad, a specialist holding midfielder, are you at all uncomfortable about being asked to play there?

A “I know JJ and he’s been doing well at club level so far this season. I
think the manager has been looking for him to push on a little bit more for
Tottenham. Michael Carrick has been the one who’s been holding. Maybe that’s got something to do with it, I’m not sure. If I get asked to play there I’m delighted for the chance to play there and that’s what I have to think about.”

Q A lot of you have known each other going back to schoolboy and Senrab days. How many of the squad do you know from back then?

A “Loads of the players played at Under 21 level. Before that in my Sunday
team there was John Terry, I played against Ashley, Jermain was a couple of years younger than me in the same team. There was J Lloyd Samuel and Paul Konchesky and Bobby Zamora also played for the same team at Sunday level.”

Q You are good friends with Ashley Cole, do you take inspiration from what he’s done over the last few years?

A “Of course. He burst onto the scene so quickly, at international level as
well. Each season he has become better and better, he’s talked about as one of the best left-backs in the world now. You look at someone like me, I
still realise what you can achieve through hard work. I grew up with Ashley
and now he’s one of the best left-backs in the world. That’s a nice thing
and something that makes me realise that if you work hard enough it can
happen to anyone.”

Q Champions League football, is that a component of it?

A “Obviously the Champions League is the pinnacle at club level. I still
feel the Premiership is a great league and you are playing against top
players week in week out.  I’m enjoying playing there at the moment and I’ll
keep doing my stuff there. Hopefully Tottenham will be playing in Europe, so
we’ll see.”

Q Do you have to be more vocal and shout more. There were times on Saturday when were dropping off a bit too much in the last 10 minutes. Do you need the confidence to shout at Terry and Gerrard and shout ‘come on’?

A “It’s up to all the players to do that, anyone who is on the pitch needs
to take charge at times. If there’s something that’s not right then vocally
you have to tell the team that. I expect anyone to do that. It’s part of
growing up and it comes with experience but everyone in the squad is
experienced now and it’s part and parcel of football.”

Q But can you do it to a Gerrard or Beckham?

A “Of course I can, I have no problems with doing that. Being captain of
Tottenham over the last year or two has probably helped me to grow in that
way. It’s something  I wouldn’t have problems with on the pitch now.”

Q The France game was a big one for you do you look forward to the World Cup thinking there could be the same opportunity?

A “ I hope to get selected for that squad. I realise that through a bit of
luck I got the chance to play against France and it’s one of the highlights
of my career so far.  You never know what happens comes the World Cup and if there’s a chance of starting I’ll take it.”

Q Jermain Defoe said Martin Jol had taken him aside and worked on things that would help him get in the England side. Has he done that with you too?

A “Yes, of course. That’s the type of manager Martin is. He speaks to the
players on a regular basis and he’s always looking to improve his players.
I’ve spoken to him about the England set-up and the players who are ahead of me at the moment. We realise the things I will have to improve on in order
to stand a better chance.”