Andros Townsend claims his stunning equaliser against Italy has once again repaid the faith England boss Roy Hodgson has shown in him.
Tottenham Hotspur's trigger-happy winger rifled home a superb 79th-minute strike to cancel out Graziano Pelle's opener for the hosts and extend the Three Lions' post-World Cup unbeaten record to eight matches.
Italy 1-1 England
International match
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Tuesday 31 March 2015
Townsend has been a regular in Hodgson's squads despite being kept out of the Spurs starting XI earlier in the season.
And after notching his third international goal – all of which have been scored from outside the box – Townsend said: "I was delighted with it.
"It seems that whenever I put on an England shirt and enter the field I always score. It’s a great feeling to do it again, against a top nation like Italy, and a world-class keeper like Buffon.
"The manager has stuck by me through the tough times and every time he's picked me and shown his loyalty I've always repaid his faith.
"It was a difficult game and it was hard to break Italy down. They set up very well with three at the back with the two wing-backs helping them.
"It was going to have to be a strike from 20 or 25 yards to get a goal today and thankfully it was me that got it."
Southampton striker Pelle put the hosts ahead after he nodded home Giorgio Chiellini's cross in the 28th minute but once Townsend had drawn England level, the visitors had chances to add to their tally through captain Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane.
Townsend added: "After we got the equaliser it was all us and we had two or three chances to get the winner but it wasn't to be. But it's a good result against Italy on their home patch."
The 23-year-old has seen two of his Spurs colleagues, Harry Kane and Ryan Mason, make their England debuts over the past few days - and he believes that will provide great inspiration to some of his younger colleagues at White Hart Lane.
"When you see players that you have played with, and when you are in the academy and you see players in your position then go play and score for their country, it gives you a massive boost," he added.
"It gives you a massive incentive that you can get there and hopefully there will be one or two more in the next few years."
Watch the full FATV video interview with Townsend above.
