Downing finds his voice after 'best performance'

Such is the confidence coursing through Stewart Downing that despite competition from Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard he believes the left-sided midfield role in the England team is not "nailed down" and he has staked his claim to it himself.

Confidence is a commodity that the 24-year-old has often, particularly in an England shirt, lacked despite the fact that his appearance against Germany on Wednesday represented his 22nd cap. The joke has been that there is an R – which should be placed between the D and the O at the start of his of his surname – missing on the back of his shirt. Too often he has sunk, rather than swum.

But the victory in Berlin was, Downing said, "my best performance for England so far," and despite strong displays by Michael Carrick and Gabriel Agbonlahor, in particular, he had a convincing claim to be the man of the match, which emboldened him to put forward his case for regular inclusion.

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"I don't think the left side is nailed down by anybody," Downing added. "Joe Cole was obviously missing, but he's a quality player and Ashley Young has come in and done well. There's Steven Gerrard who has played on the left, too, but I'm hoping Fabio keeps giving me a chance and that I can prove I'm worth the place on the left."

Fabio Capello is an admirer of Downing – who impressed the England manager with his substitute's appearance against France in March – because he is a quick, direct and, crucially, left-footed winger who, when he is at his best, adds pace and balance to a squad that at times can appear lacking in speed.

The game against Germany helped address that. With Agbonlahor impressing on his debut and with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jermain Defoe, England probably had the quickest front four that has been fielded under Capello. And that despite the fact that Theo Walcott was absent injured.

It is easy to get too carried away. Downing, it must be remembered, had started, and looked startled in, the World Cup qualifier away to Andorra. It was a dire appearance. "Andorra stuck everybody behind the ball and it didn't really suit me," the Middlesbrough winger complained. "But the Germany game opened up and I thought we looked good on the break. I grew in confidence as the game went on. But it's only one game. I want to keep going, I don't just want to be in the squad, I want to play."

The eight withdrawals from the squad meant Downing was not alone in that determination. "The players thought, 'This is our chance to show what we can do'. Me as well," he said. "There were a lot of players missing, Lampard and Gerrard, so there was a chance for people to stake their claim and, hopefully we have given the manager a few problems."

It has not always been the case. Downing admits that turning up for international duty in the past has been a "chore", partly because he has been the target of derision from the supporters but also because, along with others, he felt the team was something of a closed shop. "I haven't always been given the chance at international level," Downing said. "But Fabio has given me more of an opportunity. Before it was more of a settled team. Fabio came in and everyone's had a fresh start. If you do well under Fabio, you have the confidence he will stick with you. That's how I feel. It's not all about names or whatever, it's about performances. If you are not playing well for your club, then you won't be picked. It's not only about what happened in Berlin, we have to do it every week with our clubs."