Tottenham winger Andros Townsend targets more goals to ensure place at World Cup 2014

The winger has made an impression on the national side since breaking into the team

Andros Townsend (Getty Images)

Andros Townsend wants to start scoring more goals for Tottenham to improve his chances of going to the World Cup.

Townsend enjoyed one of the most memorable England debuts in recent memory last month when he scored a stunning goal and set up another in a 4-1 win over Montenegro.

The 22-year-old showed superb skill to power home a low drive from 25 yards with his weaker right foot, so it may come as something of a surprise that he feels his shooting is something that needs improving.

Townsend had a healthy record for a winger in his nine loans spells away from Spurs, and he has scored three goals in 14 appearances for club and country so far this season.

But with the likes of Aaron Lennon and Erik Lamela breathing down his neck at Spurs, he knows chipping in with more goals will prove vital in his bid to stay in the first team.

"Goals and assists make you un-droppable and I know there are great players all vying for two wing spots at Spurs, so I need to get more goals and assists to cement my place in the team and not give the manager an excuse to drop me," Townsend told talkSPORT.

Townsend's route to the top has not been easy.

He spent four seasons out on loan before finally getting a crack at first-team football with Tottenham and he also had to endure the pain of a one-month ban after breaking betting rules.

But he believes that tough journey has made him into the player he is today.

"I had to work hard for four or five years in the lower leagues to get that chance so it would have been silly to let my big chance pass me by," the 22-year-old said.

"My aim was to grab the (Montenegro) game by the scuff of the neck and make it my game. That was my one chance. I knew if I didn't perform there would be six or seven top wingers who would take my place. It was my chance and thankfully I took it."

Townsend is set to feature in England's forthcoming friendlies against Chile and Germany following his impressive debut last month.

Many believe the winger is a dead cert to make the plane to Brazil, but he is not taking any notice of the hype surrounding him at the moment.

"I tried not to read as much of the press as I could after the game," he said.

"I watched highlights and everything was about me. Then it started to sink in - the achievement of scoring on my debut in such an important game and playing so well.

"But at the end of the day, it's not the media who pick the England team, it's the manager."

PA