England rookie star Townsend looking to deliver at Tottenham and clinch Rio spot

The 22-year-old again produced a positive display in the 2-0 win over Poland at Wembley on Tuesday night, which saw England claim top spot in World Cup qualifying Group H and with it a place in the finals in Brazil next summer.

Townsend tested Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny early on, and then crashed a 25-yard effort against the crossbar before continuing to be a menace until he was replaced by James Milner for the closing few minutes.

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old, who scored on his full England debut against Montenegro last Friday, knows he can take nothing for granted over the next seven months as Roy Hodgson looks to select his final group for the trip to South America.

“It was fantastic to help my country get to a World Cup and it’s now up to me to go back to my club and keep playing well and book my place on the plane,” he said.

“I have to keep playing well in every game for Spurs. I can’t think about the World Cup, I have to focus on my Tottenham performances.

“If I have a couple of bad games there are world-class players that can come in.

“I know if I’m to get on the plane I have to keep playing well, for Tottenham, and for England in the friendlies – it is not going to be easy.

“I have a tough six months in front of me and hard competition for places, but I am relishing it.”

Townsend – who had a brief loan spell at Leeds United in 2012, making six appearances and scoring once – revealed how the senior players in the squad helped him settle so quickly.

“Everyone has been giving me advice – (Steven) Gerrard, (Frank) Lampard and (Wayne) Rooney. They are all world-class players at the top of their game, so I have been delighted to come in and not only play at Wembley, but to play alongside them,” he said.

“I will take the advice they gave me back to the club and hopefully keep playing well.”

Hodgson has confirmed his intention to use England’s remaining friendlies this season to give younger players a chance to stake their claim for a place in the final squad.

Townsend feels the latest crop of youngsters can only stand the Three Lions in good stead. “Over the last year or so there has been a lot of talk about a lack of English talent, but you saw there was (Daniel) Sturridge, (Danny) Welbeck, (Jack) Wilshere, so we do have fantastic players coming through,” he said.

“It is great for the country, not only for the present, but the future.”

Sturridge hopes England’s team spirit can be the catalyst for success at the World Cup.

Striker Sturridge – in fine form for Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League – has forged a promising understanding at England level with Rooney, who scored a ninth goal in his last 10 internationals when heading the hosts into the lead just before half-time.

The collective effort was capped by a late strike from captain Gerrard, which sparked wild celebrations in the stands, on the England bench and among the players.

Put to him that the squad looks united, Sturridge said: “It is very fair to say. It is all about working together as a team and going out there to perform.

“The squad has been close the whole time I have been here. It is always good to link up with each other again.”

The forwards have clicked well in the past two games, and Sturridge said: “We have time to develop that understanding now and I look forward to that and working with these guys in the future and for years to come.

“We played very well as a team in both games and if we keep doing that, we will be okay,” he said.

“It is going okay (at Liverpool). I am going to take each day as it comes, work hard in training and thanks to God for everything he has blessed me with.

“I am now focusing on performing for my club and making sure I get on the plane (to Brazil).”