In-form Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon has revealed he's received encouragement from within the England camp after a faltering start to the season.

"I have been back with the under-21s this season and the coach, Stuart Pearce, tells me that I have to keep playing my own game, and that my chance will come," Lennon said.

"It has not been nice to be out of the England squad. Having a taste of it in the 2006 World Cup was great, so my aim is definitely to get involved again."

Lennon has lost his England place to Arsenal's Theo Walcott and added: "I was happy to see Theo doing well, but [his emergence] was another step back for me, and there are still quite a few players in front of me in the set-up."