October 7 2016

Andros Townsend (Photo: Ramzi Musallam)

Crystal Palace winger ANDROS TOWNSEND is determined to seize his chance with England.

TOWNSEND this week got a late call-up from interim England manager Gareth Southgate due to injured Raheem Sterling's withdrawal from the squad.

The 25-year-old already has 11 caps and is aiming for a place in the Three Lions team for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta on Saturday and Slovenia three days later.

"It's nice to be back," he said. "I missed the last few trips. Now I'm back and hopefully I can make the most of it. I didn't know Raheem was out.

"I got a call Monday afternoon to say I was replacing somebody. I have been happy with my form, I started a little bit slowly, didn't make the first squad, but I was happy with my form.

"Thankfully I have been given the chance through someone else's misfortune and hopefully I can make the most of it."

After scoring on his England debut in a 4-1 win over Montenegro in 2013, an ankle injury forced TOWNSEND out of the 2014 World Cup while he was at Tottenham.

And despite flourishing for Newcastle last season, the playmaker failed to make Roy Hodgson's final Euro 2016 squad.

"It has been extremely frustrating. Looking back on it I got injured at the wrong time when I was flying high," he said.

"Then for a year or two I could not get back to the form I wanted to. But now, what is in the past is in the past and I proved at Newcastle I am still good enough to play in the Premier League.

"It gave me great confidence again and I got back in the England squad. Unfortunately, it did not work out for me there but now I am playing well for Palace and scoring goals again.

"Obviously there is a bit of frustration that I could not kick on after my debut but I think I am in a good place again, I am happy with my form and I am playing well."