Did you ever worry you were going to become a one-cap wonder?

A little bit, you know. Getting the first cap was great but after that not getting in no squad was a bit disappointing. I had to pick myself up and keep working hard. I’ve gone to West Ham and kept working hard and got another chance.

But just to play for England at the highest level you can meant a lot to me.

Putting on that Three Lions shirt, running out at Upton Park where I used to go as a kid.

Do you expect it to be different this time?

It will be a bit different. At Charlton I was playing at left-back and in midfield and it was hard for me when I got into the squad at left-back because I was playing in midfield for Charlton.

But since then I’ve gone to West Ham and played left-back the last 12 games and I think I’ve come on as a kid and as a person in those two years.

Do you think you will play?

I just like to think I have a good chance. If I get a chance on Saturday I’ll show the England manager what I can do and do what I’ve done for the last two years.

Did you start the year thinking about the World Cup?

In the back of my mind it was an aim but I thought it had gone for the World Cup really. But I’ve done well for West Ham, West Ham have done well and obviously I’ve got another chance.

Which left-backs did you admire as a youngster?

As a kid I used to watch Julian Dicks, who obviously wasn’t an England international. But I used to watch a lot of Paolo Maldini, he was a world class player.

What would it mean to get your chance against Argentina in such a big match?

It means a lot to me just to be here to show the manager what I can do and play against one of the best teams in the world with their world class players. If I get a chance it will mean a hell of a lot.

If I got my chance I wouldn’t fear anyone and I think England are as good as anyone.

Do have to be more careful of going into tackles in matches like this?

You know playing at international level you have to be careful. But you don’t go into games thinking about that you go and play and do what you do on a normal Saturday for your club.

You were with some quality players in youth team days at Senrab weren’t you?

A lot of that has come up in the paper about the Senrab thing, being that young and playing with great players was good. But if I get my chance to play internatinal level with them it will prove how far that club can push you and how far the players have come on.

Ashley Cole was a forward in those days and then he went to left wing and then England left-back. That’s well done to Ashley and good luck to him.

What was it about Senrab that produced so many players?

I couldn’t tell you really. As kids you want to play football and you’re willing to learn and obviously the players that have come through have wanted to learn. It’s the same with my age group. They wanted to learn and did learn.

In the Australia match did you come on when England were already three down?

I came on at half-time.

Did you feel upset that you weren’t included in the next squad and think it was unfair?

Not really, that’s the manager’s decision and you stick by that. I’ve kept going and I’ve got another chance now.

With Ashley out and Bridge just coming back do you think you are favourite to start against Argentina?

I wouldn’t like to say. I have three more days of training and obviously Wayne is here as well. We will be training hard together and if either of us get that opportunity I think we’ll take it with both hands.

Why did you like Julian Dicks so much?

It was because I was a West Ham fan and I used to go and watch and he was a West Ham man through and through. But Paolo Maldini I think had every attribute you could think of as a fullback. I used to watch him and learn and I’m still learning off him now.

What he done with the ball, his positional sense, everything on the pitch.

Is it true you went to the play-off final as a West Ham fan with your scarf on?

I didn’t go with a scarf but my cousin and his girlfriend’s family are mad West Ham and they had a spare ticket, so being a West Ham fan I thought I would tag along really. It was a great day out and if wasn’t for that day I wouldn’t be at West Ham I don’t think.

Did playing for a smaller club affect your chances with England?

The England manager goes to whatever games he can go to and he has scouts at every game, he’s obviously getting feedback from everyone so I don’t think it matters nowadays if you are playing for a lower club.

You were at Tottenham as well on loan and went back to Charlton, it was a bid odd?

The loan thing was between me and the manager. They needed a player and I needed to play some football, so that was that.

I went back to Charlton and got my head down for the rest of the season and got my move that I needed at that time in my career. I’ve kicked on from there.

Are you aware of the tradition at West Ham of bringing England players through. They have the pictures of Bobby Moore and everything?

Obviously they want to push as many young players as they can into the England squad. We have a few with the Under 21s and me here. I think it’s just a team thing and the team is doing well so it looks a bit better for the England players as well.

How come you ended up at Charlton not West Ham?

All my mates went to Charlton. I was only a young boy and I went with my mates not knowing what was around the corner. I went to Charlton and stayed there from 14 until last summer.

I had eight or nine good years there and now I’ve moved on to West Ham and hopefully my career will start again.

Do you feel under extra pressure to perform in this game as it was a shock inclusion?

Not really. The manager has been to the games so he’s seen what I can do. I have to come here and show him what I can do with the help of the senior players as well. I just have to do what I do for my club and hopefully that will bring me through.

How did you find out? Was it a surprise?

I got a phone call Sunday night before the squad got announced. In the back of my mind I thought I might have a chance with Ashley being injured and Wayne Bridge having been out a long while. But having not been in the last squad I wasn’t sure. When that call came I was over the moon more than anybody.

Do you think you should have stayed at left-back?

I do. And I think the Charlton manager now would probably tell you the same. He’s been fair to me and let me go and now I have to kick start my career.

Had you got to a stage where you needed a move?

Yes, I think I did. I played my first game at 16 and I was 24 when I left.

I didn’t play as many games as I would like to have done but that was partly down to the manager and partly me. I think he knew I had to move on.

In what way was it down to you?

Not telling him that I wanted to play at left-back, really. I was playing left midfield and centre midfield, I was a utility player for him and it probably didn’t do me no good.

You were captain of Under 21s does it mean more coming through all the ranks?

Obviously I have played at every level internationally and the one cap I got against Australia was probably the best day of my life. I’ve got another chance now and I like to think I can take it with two hands and go on from there.

You know John Terry well, what inspiration has he been?

I speak to John a lot. Obviously every has seen him come through Chelsea into the England squad and he’s going to be a world class player if he’s not already. I speak to John a lot and all I can do is talk to him about when he’s been away with England and take some advice from him.

He’s just a normal boy. He just gets on with things like everybody else.

What you have done with your Australia shirt?

It’s all framed and I’ve got in my games room at home.

And the cap?

It’s all framed in the same thing.

Your sister’s married to Paul Terry, isn’t she? So the two families are connected?

That’s right but I grew up with John. I’ve known him since I was a kid. We played at district level when we were eight, so I’ve known John a long time not just through my sister. We grew up together and now I’m back here playing with him.