Joe Hart feels he is still benefiting from the experiences gained in last summer's European Championships.
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier
6pm, Friday 16 November 2007
Milton Keynes Dons FC, stadium:mk
Live on Sky Sports 1
Joe Hart admits the experience of featuring in the England Under-21 squad at last summer's European Championship Finals has helped him develop into a better goalkeeper.
The Manchester City star is poised to line up between the sticks for Stuart Pearce's side against Bulgaria on Friday evening, insisting the team is ready to record their fifth successive victory.
England have won all four of their European Championship qualifiers so far without conceding a goal, leaving them top of the group ahead of the clash with Bulgaria, at MK Dons' stadium:mk.
And Hart believes the experience of last summer's tournament has helped him and the rest of the team become far more accomplished.
Hart said: "I learnt a massive amount from the European Championship Finals in Holland last summer.
“I've never been involved in anything like it. There were some big names in front of me and it was a great experience and something I'd like to experience again.
"It's definitely helped me now I'm in the first team at City and with the Under-21's, so it's evidence that it's had a positive effect on me."
England will be anxious to take three points on Friday night with a tough trip to Portugal to come next Tuesday - but Hart insists that the team is full of confidence ahead of the two games.
"The boys are on fire but it doesn't really surprise me, especially with the team that we've got,” he added.
"In most games I've had hardly anything to do, the lads have won the games in the first 20 minutes, being two or three goals ahead.
"It does make it easier when you're playing that well, but everybody is ready to dig in and hopefully we can get the results against Bulgaria on Friday and Portugal on Tuesday.
"If we win those two games, it will definitely give us a stranglehold on the group. Every game is huge. Portugal will be a hard game; we haven't faced them yet and they're one of the main contenders for the group.
"Hopefully we can get a good result against Bulgaria and then go to Portugal and see what happens."