Downing knows the time has come to deliver

The Aston Villa winger was part of the 2006 World Cup squad and started the opening three Euro 2008 qualifiers but is only now starting to re-establish himself as an England force.

Downing was voted Villa’s player of the year for 2010-11 and made his first start for his country for more than two years against Ghana in March.

Now the 26-year-old is looking to build on that breakthrough in Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland at Wembley.

“It’s been frustrating,” said Downing. “I’ve been in and out and you just want a run as a player, to get in the squad or the team.

“Maybe I am rebuilding my international career. I’ve been in and out of squads since I made my debut.

“But I’m fit and well. With the country, I’ve been involved in the last two games. I was pleased to get a start so long may that continue.

“I’m feeling confident. Hopefully I will play some part and show the manager I’m good enough to be here and to play.

“But, with the competition, I think every trip you go on, you’ve got to prove (yourself) and constantly impress the manager.

“You can’t rely on your last game or last performance because one iffy performance and you are out.

“There is great competition and great for the manager he has got those options. I’ve got to catch his eye.”

Downing has impressed at club level despite Villa flirting with relegation for long periods before a strong end to the campaign.

He said: “In club terms, I’ve come off the back of a good season.

“It’s been a disappointing season as a whole as a club but in the end we got the job done.

“There’s been no hiding place but we finished quite strongly which is good.”

Downing is confident England will be switched on mentally for Saturday’s game after a week’s rest at the conclusion of the domestic season.

He said: “I’ve finished the season quite well so I just want to keep on playing.

“All players will tell you that if they are on a good run.

“We’ve had a week off to rest so we should be fresh for the game and ready to win it.

“I ended on a high at club level with the win against Liverpool and, with England, it will be nice to get a win going into the August-September games. It breeds confidence in the squad and we just want to carry on winning.

“If we repeat the performances of recently, we will have no problem. The message is simply ‘let’s get a win.’”

“If we can win and head into next season top of the group, qualification starts to seem a little closer.

“It will give us a big step forward.”

Downing has been impressed with the form of his Villa team-mate Darren Bent for club and country in recent months since his £18m move from Sunderland in January.

He said: “Darren has scored a couple of important goals for England and been a great signing for Aston Villa.

“He is a proven goalscorer, a good hard worker, who puts the chances away for Villa and it has been the same with England.

“He has had three chances in the last three games and he has stuck every one away.”

Downing’s Villa team-mate Ashley Young, meanwhile, is putting all talk of his own future on hold until after Saturday’s qualifier.

Young has only 12 months remaining of his current contract at Villa Park and is being strongly linked with a big money move to Manchester United.

But the former Watford player is determined to look no further than the clash with the Swiss as he too strives to cement a regular place in Capello’s starting line-up.

“To be honest, I’ve said I’ll speak to the manager (Gerard Houllier) and chairman (Randy Lerner) at the end of the season,” said Young.

“I’ve got to concentrate on this game and then we’ll see what happens regarding talking to them after this game.”

Young has refused to sign an improved or extended contract and is almost certain to leave Villa for around £15m.

But in the short term he is hoping to build on his impressive performances for his country against Denmark, Wales and Ghana.

Young scored the winner against Denmark and set up three goals against Wales and Ghana when part of the starting line-up.

He said: “The game against Denmark was one of my best for England and to get on the scoresheet and get the winner was an added bonus.

“I feel, with the last two games I’ve started, I’ve done really well and hopefully, when it comes to Saturday, I will have done enough to get into the starting line-up.

“It is always an honour to get into the England squad and I’m now starting to establish myself more in the squad and we’ve had positive results in these last two games.

“I think I’m giving the manager a lot more to think about with my performances.

“When you are in the team as a winger, you are there to create goals or score them yourself.”

England need to overcome the Swiss to keep on course for the Euro 2012 finals.

Young said: “If we build on the last two games, I’m sure we will be able to get the three points.

“We want to keep the good form going of late and put in a good performance for England before going away for the summer.”

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Young feels comfortable in the 4-3-3 formation being preferred by Capello.

He said: “I think it has worked really well. The interchanging between the midfielders and the front three was excellent, especially against Wales.

“It is a system which has a lot of pluses to it.”

The opportunity could be there for Young to switch back to the second striker role in which he excelled against Denmark as Wayne Rooney is suspended for the Switzerland game.

Young said: “Wazza is a great loss but we have a lot of players in the squad that can come in and play in that position.

“I’m sure the boys are raring to go and looking for the chance to get into the team.

“There are a lot of players fighting for positions.”

England need to overcome the Swiss to keep on course for the Euro 2012 finals.

Young said: “If we build on the last two games, I’m sure we will be able to get the three points.

“We want to keep the good form going of late and put in a good performance for England before going away for the summer.”