5 September 2005
Luke Young press conference

Luke Young talks to the press ahead of England's World Cup Qualifier against Northern Ireland in Belfast.


After making his full debut against Wales, Luke Young is loving every minute of being involved in the England squad.

On Monday he spoke in a press briefing ahead of the Three Lions' game in Belfast and TheFA.com brings you the full transcription of what he had to say...

Q: Were you happy with your performance against Wales?
Yes, fairly happy. The longer the game went on the more comfortable I felt I was a little bit nervous at the start, it was my first start for England and in a qualifying game was added pressure. But the longer the game went on the more comfortable I felt.

Q: Are you thinking there’s a chance to be Gary Neville’s number two and get to the World Cup?
I haven’t thought too much about that, this is the first qualifier I have been involved in and first start as well, it’s all happened quite quickly for me so I’m just trying to concentrate on doing well in this get-together. I’ll look at that after this get-together and I’ll assess where I am then.

Q: People assumed Phil Neville would get the role because he is more experienced, does it give you confidence that the manager trusted you to play?
Yes, definitely. It’s good of the manager to trust me to go out there. Obviously I play right-back for Charlton week in week out, so maybe that was what helped me. Phil has played central midfield a lot this season and left-back also, so I think the fact that I’ve been playing right-back throughout the season gave me the chance.

Q: Were you surprised to get picked?
Yeah, maybe a little bit surprised. But I think I played well for Charlton in the previous few games, against Wigan and then just before the squad was announced against Middlesbrough. I was a bit surprised to get called up but obviously I was delighted when I got the call.

Q: Did you think it would affect your England chances when you left Tottenham or did you see it as a step back to go forwards?
Yes, I think it probably was. When I was at Spurs I was playing in a lot of different positions, wherever there was an injury I was filling in. Then Alan Curbishley took me to Charlton and basically said to me ‘you want to be a right back, here’s your chance’ and played me there. Obviously I’m benefiting from that now.

Q: Being a jack of all trades doesn’t really help?
I think it’s good when you’re young to get a chance to play in the first team but you get to a stage where, I was 22 at the time, when you need to cement a right-back spot at a club. And I was thankful for Alan Curbishley for giving me that chance.

Q: Has Alan Curbishley been important for your career?
He gave me the chance in the first place by bringing me over to Charlton, for quite a lot of money at the time as well. I was hot and cold in the first season probably but he stuck with me and hopefully I have repaid him in the last few years.

Q: Sven has three more years to go but would you see Alan Curbishley has a possible future England manager?
In the future I think he probably could, yeah. He’s got a lot of experience now, he’s been at the same club for 10 or 12 years. He’s a very good manager and he’s a good man manager as well. He talks to you and you know what he wants from you. I think he’s got a good chance of becoming an England manager.

Q: Did he give you any advice when you were called up?
No, he didn’t. I just spoke to the assistant manager Mervyn Day and he wished me all the luck – and ‘don’t get injured’ was the instruction!

Q: What would you say Curbishley’s strengths are?
I think man management, really. If he’s not quite happy with something he will pull you in and say ‘you need to work on this or do this’. If he’s going to leave someone out of the team he’ll pull you up on the Friday before the game and he lists the reasons why you’re not playing, so you know where you stand, which most players would like.

Q: Would he have the respect of the players if he became England manager?
Yes, I think so. Obviously he’s done a great job at the moment at Charlton and I think he’s enjoying doing that and England have already got a manager who is doing really well. We’re second in our group with a game in hand. But in the future if there was a chance for him to become England manager then I think he would do a good job.

Q: How do you see Charlton this season, you have started well and Darren Bent has also got called up. Will you do well?
Hopefully, Darren Bent has made a big difference to us. He is finishing chances that maybe we didn’t put away in the past. He’s started on fire for us and he’s killed off a few games late on as well. It’s been a great start for us and we’re a team that once we get a few wins we go on a run, so hopefully we can do that now.

Q: Can you keep it going this time and not fade away like in the past?
In the past we have had quite a small squad and it’s been a big big effort to get to sixth in the league with ten games to go. I think the lads have been pretty tired. But this time the manager has brought in a number of players, about six or seven, who can come in and are as good as the lads that are playing. Hopefully we can keep it going a bit longer.”

Q: Gary Neville has been England’s right-back for a long time, is he a player who you look up to and study?
I think so, yeah. Gary Neville has probably been the best right-back in the Premier League for the last eight years and he’s someone that the manager knows he can rely on, you know where he’s going to be, he’s always steady and doesn’t do anything silly. He’s a great player and someone I would like to have attributes similar to him.”

Q: Was it strange for you seeing the reaction after the Wales game even though England had won?
It was strange for me. If I had won a game playing for Charlton the way we did at the weekend then I don’t think there would have been that much negative response to the game. We got the win which was the most important thing. Three points. That’s what we set out to do at the start of the game. It’s a difficult one being new to the squad. You realise what goes on behind the scenes and after the game with the press. It’s a big thing playing for your country.

Q: Did it make you realise how big it is?
Definitely. I think Michael Owen said all eyes are on you and if you make a mistake it will be next day in the papers. You have to go out there and perform to your best ability.

Q: Does it feel differently being with the senior squad for a competitive game, not like the tour of the States?
Definitely. There were quite a few injuries when I got my chance to go to America and I only played 20 minutes. But this time they are qualifiers and it’s a lot bigger. I enjoyed the first game and I’d like to play the second game. But it’s a lot more pressure on these kind of games.
This is what you want as a professional player, when it comes you have to try and take your chance. I’ll be looking to do that if I get another chance.

Q: How important is this game?
All the qualifying games are important. If we keep doing what we can do and keep picking up three points then we won’t have to worry about anyone else. We’re looking to win all the games that remain.

Q: Did Sven say anything to you after the game against Wales?
No, just briefly he said well done as I walked past. He was pleased to get the win.