Sam, 19, was called into the squad on Friday afternoon following a late drop-out and met up with his new team-mates for the first time on Sunday morning.

And the promising Charlton youngster was justifiably thrilled with his performance in front of his manager Alan Curbishley.

"That is the highest point in my career so far," Sam smiled. "I was really happy to be involved in the 16-man squad at Newcastle and the day before I heard I was in the England squad too, so it has been a good week!

"It all happened so quickly. On Friday I did not even know I was travelling up to St James' Park. Then I found out I would be travelling due to a last-minute injury.

"Then, on the morning of the game, a couple more injuries hit the Charlton squad, so I only found out shortly before the game. And then I found out about the England call-up. It has all happened so quickly but it has gone well so far.

"The atmosphere was good in St. James' Park. It was the first time I had been there and I just took it all in. I was warming up on the pitch and at first I was a bit nervous but after a while I just wanted to get on the pitch and say I played in the Premiership."

But there were no such nerves for the Leeds-born winger when he was brought on as a second- half substitute for England's Under-20s.

Sam replaced former Millwall player Cherno Samba on 77 minutes and, with his first touch, sealed England's victory by firing the ball past Russian 'keeper Budakov.

"I had just come on," continued Sam. "Richard Chaplow had the ball on the left side and as soon as he crossed it, I knew it was going to go over the defender's head, so I was just thinking in my head to get the first touch right and I scored.

"The first touch was good. It just seemed like I had so much time in front of goal and I just put it in the corner."

Sam is a product of the Charlton youth academy who has progressed through the ranks into the reserves and is on the verge of breaking into the first-team squad.

The talented winger admits that he benefited hugely from a three-month loan spell during the 2002-03 season.

"I think during my loan spell at Leyton Orient I got stronger and learnt the importance of the hard parts of the game like tackling, tracking back without the ball and the defensive side which I did not really have before. So that has helped me in that way.

"My main aim is just to get in the first team again - maybe either come on or start a couple of games. If I am playing for the first team, it is more likely I will be picked for another England squad."

His performance drew praise from England Under-20 coach John Peacock (below).

He said: "It is sometimes difficult for players to come straight on to the pitch and get into the tempo of the game. But I have to say that his first touch was excellent and his second was equally as good to put it in the back of the net.

"He dropped into the occasion very well on Sunday. He does know a few of the players already so, in that respect, it was not relatively new for him.

"He has obviously had experience before internationally at England Under-18 level and basically just dropped into it. He has got a nice smiling face, he is keen to learn and listen and it was a nice way to finish the game."