Jonathan Woodgate has rubbished claims he has failed to make an England return because he is playing for Middlesbrough.

"Stewart [Downing] has been in every squad for the last two years so I wouldn't say that is the case," said Woodgate. "If you play well for your club every week then you'll get selected for your country."

The ex-Real Madrid and Leeds centre back is eager to re-establish himself in the England set-up.

"Obviously I want to try to get into the squad for the European Championships but it is not going to be easy with the type of players we have got.

"Injuries have come at bad times in the past but that's the way it goes in football, you get lucky and you get bad luck; sometimes you are injured sometimes you are not.

"I hope I'll get a chance soon - they have been playing really well recently and the performances they put in the last two games has been a credit to the players and the management team."