Milner aims to impress Capello

Villa midfielder James Milner believes helping England's young guns to conquer Europe this month could provide a springboard into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

Milner reckons the UEFA Under-21s Championships, which kick off on Monday in Sweden, are the perfect stage to boost his claims for full England honours.

And, with Capello's men all-but through to next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, Milner is already dreaming of winning a place in the squad.

"The World Cup is obviously the main aim of everyone who has been in and around this squad," sad Milner, who is in Sweden preparing for Monday's opening match against Finland.

"Players are all aiming to play in the World Cup squad and I will get some more good experience of tournament football this year with the Under-21s and then it's all about having a good season next season.

"It's all about getting that good form going and catching the eye.

"When Spain won their major tournament in 2008 everybody was saying they didn't have much big-game experience, but a lot of them had won the Under-21s Championships.

"That habit of winning comes through and if we can go one step further than we did last time and win this tournament it will be a great habit. Every game I play, whether it's for the Under-21s, Villa or England, I have to go out there and do my best to catch the eye."