Fulham full-back Liam Rosenior wants to force his way into Steve McClaren’s England plans for the 2008 European Championships.
Rosenior, 22, signed a new four-year contract with the club in July and is hoping to impress the national coach enough this season to break into the England set-up.
The defender has competition for his place at Fulham but he is determined to make the right-back spot his own this term after suffering with injuries last year.
Rosenior declared: “The end of last season went well, but the first half of the campaign was frustrating as I battled against injury. What I set out to do before the start of last season was to get into the England set-up.
“I didn’t achieve that as I felt I hadn’t enough time in the second half of the season to do it. On the whole, however, I felt I continued my development as a player and carried on improving, something I hope to continue this season.
“Gary Neville is 31 so there is a need for players to prepare for when he steps aside. There are players like myself, Glen Johnson and Micah Richards who need to really push on this season and make it an easy decision for Steve McClaren to put us in the squad.”
Despite his failure to break into the England set-up, Rosenior’s career at club level has continued to impress and he had no hesitation in signing a new deal in the summer.
“It was a really easy decision for me to make,” Rosenior admitted. “Since the time I joined nearly three years ago I have had a great time, I have grown, not just in footballing terms but as a man as well.
“I am engaged now and feel really settled. I love this club, myself and my family both thought it was the right to decision to make so it’s great to be here for another four years. I wouldn’t have signed a four-year contract if I felt my future aspirations would be affected by playing for Fulham.”
Rosenior knows he will have to be on top of his form if he is to cement a first-team place this season but remains confident he can keep Moritz Volz out of the side.
Rosenior added: “I am happy to play wherever the manager selects me to play, but right-back is without doubt my preferred position. Hopefully now I am in a position to make that right-back spot my own and if I can achieve that it will be a big step for me.
“Moritz and I are great friends; he is a top guy who is very popular among the team. Competition within the team is natural, we are in a fortunate position this season to have competition for all places and that is great for Fulham.”
