Bridge has chance to move from fringes to England forefront

Southampton left-back looks to exploit opportunity as Liechtenstein's former Serie A striker relishes test in Vaduz qualifier

Wayne Bridge's last match in an England shirt was in the familiar environs of the St Mary's Stadium, where he filled the problematic area on the left side of midfield for two-thirds of the Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia.

But as Southampton's left-back looks forward to tomorrow's match in Liechtenstein, where he looks odds-on to make his first England start in his natural position because of the absence of Ashley Cole with injury, the memory of his home-from-home appearance is, at best, a mixed one.

"I thought I did OK in the Macedonia game, and I was a bit disappointed to be taken off," he said. "I thought I linked up well with Ashley. When he's fit, maybe I'll get another chance."

Bridge had good reason to be miffed after contributing a large measure of England's most enterprising moments on a night when defensive blunders allowed the visitors to earn a 2-2 draw. Before leaving the pitch he had produced a respectable number of the swift runs and well-measured crosses that had convinced Eriksson he could do a job further up the pitch from his accustomed position.

The consistent and popular Southampton defender, who had an uninterrupted run of appearances stretching back almost three years until he suffered an injury earlier this season, comes across as a pleasant and sensible soul who is not taking anything for granted in his playing career. "It was only a year ago that I made my international debut in Amsterdam, and now I have played in the World Cup. Everything has happened so quickly for me that I sometimes have to pinch myself to believe it. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it carries on that way."

Asked if he is recognised even now outside Southampton, he admitted with a grin: "No, not really. But it's good in a way. I'm OK just strolling around and not getting recognised."

While that may be true off the field, it is clear that the same cannot be said for his attitude towards international selection. Bridge is still effectively a fringe player, but Cole's enforced absence offers him an opportunity he is clearly eager to take with matches looming against Liechtenstein tomorrow and Turkey at Sunderland on Wednesday.

"If Ashley was here he'd probably be starting, but I've got a great chance here to prove what kind of a player I am," Bridge said. "If Ashley keeps playing the way he's playing I'm going to have to work extremely hard to push him out of the side. But I've got a chance now in the next two games to hopefully play well and put a lot of pressure on. I wouldn't mind playing left midfield again. I did enjoy it last time, so it would be good to have another chance."

While Bridge remains in the mix, the same cannot be said of his club-mate James Beattie, who has been dropped from the squad after making his debut in last month's friendly against Australia, where he played the first half. Beattie, who has been scoring for fun in the Premiership, had just one half chance during those 45 minutes, an awkwardly rising ball which he half-volleyed wide. It did not look like he was having any fun at all – and now he is out in the cold, a reminder to Bridge, if he ever needed it, of the precariousness of international football.

"I spoke to James about it and he's very disappointed," Bridge said. "But he's got the right attitude. He says if he keeps scoring the manager is going to find it difficult to leave him out."

That is a position to which Bridge himself aspires, and even though he has played only a handful of England games, he is already aware that his game has been improved by the experience. "My confidence level has flown up," he said. "I'm a lot more composed on the ball each time I get it. There's more expectation on me now."

By next Wednesday evening, that level of expectation could have risen still further for a player who senses an opportunity to take another significant step forward in his career.