Middlesbrough defender David Wheater says his spell on-loan at Darlington last season went a long way to him achieving his shock England call-up yesterday.

"It has capped off a good year for me and hopefully I can keep playing well and get in the full squad when it gets cut down," Wheater told mfc.co.uk.

"I was at Darlo this time last year but that's what you need - go in low and you get the experience and the confidence with it and I've come into the Premier League and done well.

"I didn't think I'd be in the first team here. I thought I might go back to Darlo or something. But there were a few injuries at the start and I took my chance and it's just gone on from there."