Hello readers,

I haven't played since I last spoke to you, I've been resting my legs, but that has now become a battle to get my place back because the team has been in such great form.

With four wins in a row you just can't change a winning team, and we have had a consistent squad for the gaffer to pick from without any injuries or suspensions so I've had to sit and watch the team.

It's great that the team is doing so well, we're in a really strong position now and we're only four or five points off the top of the table.

I've played a lot of games this season and I think that everyone at the club just wants to make sure we can stay in good shape long term, so that's why I was rested.

The first week I started I was not really doing anything at all, I was just restoring the energy in my legs and refreshing my body.

Once we won the first game I was rested for it didn't look like we were going to change the team, then it was two wins, then three.

It all changed for me after that, I was working on the technical side of my game, my distribution and my first touch, and I was back in the position I was in before I broke into the first team.

It's been three weeks that I have been working with the reserve team now, and it gives me a chance to really hone my game with less pressure on winning.

When I was in the first team we played so often that much of the time was either recovering from the last game or preparing for the next, it's hard to work on your individual attributes all that much.

I was getting all the practise from first team experience I suppose, and now that I'm not getting that I'll have to get as much as I can out of training every day.

A couple of weeks ago I was a little down about not playing but I've definitely got that desire to get back into the team, because once you've had that experience of first team football you'll do anything to get it back.

I've been able to see my friends and family a lot more often in the last few weeks which is something that softens the blow of not playing first team.

And on Saturday's when my parents come over from Worcester to watch the games I can sit with them, which is fantastic.

Instead of them watching me from a distance playing or sat on the bench, I can talk to my mum and dad which has actually been really nice. When I was younger I always sat with my parents and I haven't had the chance to do it all that often.

I also went to see England take on Spain at Old Trafford the day after the U19s game with Poland, which was a really fascinating experience for me.

Obviously for regular fans they would have liked to have seen England win, but for me it was incredible to be that close to the top quality players in the country.

Where I was sat I was so close to the pitch, you can just see the technical ability of the players so much clearer in person it's completely different to watching the game on TV.

As a footballer invovled in the England Youth teams, I could see what both teams were trying to do in the game and it's unbelievable how strong and technically gifted they are.

You never see that detail on television. Gerrard is the one for me, everything he does is unbelievable and seeing him up close was a dream.

We were watching Micah warming up right in front of us and to think that we're the same age and we play in the same position is strange, but promising for me.

I've played against him so many times before, but he's shown that with hard work and desire you can achieve anything.

Everything that people say about him just add to the great prospect he is, he showed no fear against Spain when he came on and I don't think it even comes into his thinking about where he is or how old he is - it's just football to him. That's a great attitude to have.

When you play against players like Micah, and Theo Walcott is another, you can see what kind of level you need to aspire to if you want to make it to the very top of the game.

I'm also looking forward to the Turkey game at Doncaster Rovers on 21 March, that should be a good one and it'll be good to see all the lads again.

I played Turkey in my first ever game for England at U17 level, and they were one of the best teams I have played at any level. If I play it will be the first time I've played against a country twice as well.

I hope all you England fans come out to support us again, it was great having such a crowd at Bournemouth last month and hopefully we'll have that again.

Speak to you soon,

Mark Little