The Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing is confident he can work his way back into the England squad ahead of next summer's World Cup.

Downing finally made his Villa debt against Burnley last weekend after recovering from a foot injury which required surgery, and quickly set his sights on an international recall.

"It's a World Cup year and hopefully the manager will think of me and hopefully come and watch and if I can get back to playing again and getting my fitness back and play well then hopefully I'll be in that squad," he said.

"Before the last World Cup, I was injured up until February with 20 games to go and I made it so I don't think the manager is too fussed. If I get back to playing well and my team is doing well I'm sure he will still take me."