Stewart Downing is very much on England boss Roy Hodgson’s mind right now and looking more than an outsider make his squad for the games against Slovenia on November 15 and Scotland four fays later.
If he makes it into either game Downing will become the first Iron to do so since Andy Carroll represented the Three Lions whilst on loan from Liverpool in 2012.
Downing is hoping for the call and says: ” “If he picks me it would be unbelievable. I’d love to play for England.
“I think the main thing for me is that I’ve got to keep playing well and if I can nick goals and create, it gives him a problem to think about. We’ll see what happens next week.
“There are a couple of injuries there and I’ll look at the squad, see what he does and who he picks.
“I know he’s been to games and is watching us, so we’ll see. That’s my attitude at the minute. If he picks me, great. If not, I’ll just carry on.”
James Collins played with Downing at Aston Villa and says picking him should be a no-brainer.
He said: “I know what Stewie can do, he’s a world-class player.
“Whether it’s in the middle, behind the strikers, he can play centre midfield or out wide. I don’t know how much more he has to do to get into the England team.
“If you’re playing well for your club and people are talking about you, it shouldn’t matter who you play for. You could be playing in the Championship.”