Leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Real Madrid pair David Beckham and Michael Owen, enter Shaun Wright-Phillips, the young man currently terrorising Premiership defences.

"It was an experience I'll never forget. I was on the bench, anxious to get on," he told us whilst sitting out of Wednesday's training session to rest a slight ankle injury.

"They said to me to go for a warm up and then Steve McClaren came over and the gaffer said 'you're going on, just enjoy yourself'."

Just fifteen minutes into his first senior appearance, the 22 year-old collected the ball on the half-way line. Those familiar with his performances for City began willing him towards the box, and before too long the ball was nestling snuggly in the back of the Ukraine net.

"When I realised there was no one to pass to, all I had in my mind was to get a shot off across the 'keeper and it went exactly how anyone would have wanted."

But it was by no means a fluke.  Having already scored spectacular solo goals in his short City career, he added to his collection with a mesmeric strike against Charlton last weekend.

"It was one of the best, I caught it well and it took its time to go in, but it eventually went in."

He added: "I have been pleased with my form of late, but it comes a lot from the players that I've been playing with and the confidence they give me.

"I still think I've got a lot of improving to do, my final ball and my concentration level, but I'm still learning off a lot of players and it's helping me as I go along.

"At the moment I'm in a good point of my career."

But has his recent form and the added publicity made his life harder in the Premiership? 

"People pay more attention and want to get tighter to you," he said. 

"But it's giving me another aspect to my game and is helping me to learn how to deal something else now."

With the opening Group 6 game on Saturday night, Shaun also gives some encouraging news that could mean we'll see him in action in Vienna.

"It's a bit sore at the moment and we will take it day by day, but hopefully it will be a lot better in the morning."

Shaun Wright-Phillips was talking to TheFA.com's Daniel Freedman. Click on the links below to watch the full interview.

1 September 2004  
Shaun Wright-Phillips Exclusive