Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott still hopes to make a late run for an England World Cup place.

Lescott wants to help City secure a top four finish and in the process clinch a place in England's World Cup squad.

Lescott, now over a knee injury, is determined to catch the eye of national team manager Fabio Capello after being a substitute during the win over against Egypt.

"No-one enjoys being on the bench, whether for your country or your club," he told mcfc.co.uk. "If you do, then you deserve to be there. I was disappointed, but I didn't go there expecting to play.

"I know I've got to progress and improve at club level then hopefully when an opportunity comes, I can do a job. But I'm pleased with the way things are going since I came back.

"This is a massive opportunity for us at City and for me as an international - hopefully we can continue our form, get fourth place, and I can go off to South Africa with the England squad."

Capello has favoured Rio Ferdinand and John Terry as the central defensive partnership but Lescott has not given up hope of breaking through.

Lescott said: "He obviously thinks I'm in the top 24 players in the country, so you've got to be pleased to a certain extent. But again, if you're there, you want to be playing. I'm no different to any other player in that respect.

"You get picked at international level on your club form, so that's going to be a massive part of the run-in. If we can progress and get to the Champions League, then I'm sure that can only help me."