Source: Team_Talk
Downing targets England return
Downing, Aston Villa's £12million summer signing from Middlesbrough, is poised to make his home debut for Villa against Tottenham on Saturday evening and knows he is playing catch-up with his rivals for a seat on the plane to South Africa next summer.[LNB]He only made his first appearance of the season as a substitute against Burnley last weekend having been sidelined since breaking his foot while playing for Boro against Villa in the penultimate game of last season.[LNB]Downing, who currently has 23 caps to his name, said: "At the moment my main priority is to get into the Villa team and doing well.[LNB]"Then hopefully Fabio Capello will pick me again and give me a chance.[LNB]"There are several other Villa players likely to be in the squad and this can only be good for me and the team.[LNB]"There are a lot of quality players here and if we are doing well as a team that means we are also doing well individually."[LNB]Downing's immediate focus is on helping Villa maintain their top four challenge in the Premier League and he has revealed that he has spent his time on the sidelines doing his homework on how the team play so he can hit the ground running.[LNB]"I'm feeling fit and my foot is fine," added Downing.[LNB]"I've had a couple of games over the past week and I'm feeling very good.[LNB]"I'm looking forward to the game with Tottenham and hopefully I will be involved as its a good game in which to be playing.[LNB]"Being out of the side I've been able to observe different things that you wouldn't be able to see if I was in the side all the time.[LNB]"I'm not too bothered where I play. Obviously I've played on the left but I've also played in other positions.[LNB]"Last season, for instance, I played off the front man at Middlesbrough which I really enjoyed.[LNB]"I've played on the right and the middle so wherever the manager wants to play me there is no problem."[LNB]Villa will be without central defender James Collins who misses his third successive game with a groin strain.[LNB][LNB]
