Brown vows to take chance

Wes Brown is determined to take his chance against Brazil on Saturday and stake a claim for a place in England's World Cup squad.

With regular right-back Glen Johnson returning to Liverpool after picking up a calf strain against Birmingham on Monday and Aston Villa's Luke Young standing by his decision to retire from the international fold, Brown looks odds-on to start against the five-time World Cup winners in Qatar.

The 30-year-old started seven of Fabio Capello's first nine matches in charge but has recently seen Johnson establish himself as the first-choice right-back having started the last 11 England games.

Despite having come in for criticism following a shaky display against CSKA Moscow in the absence of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at club level, Brown insists he goes into the game against Brazil full of confidence after a stand-out performance against Chelsea.

"Glen has come in and done brilliantly with England and that's why he's playing at the moment," Brown pointed out on the FA's official website.

"He has shown great ability and I think it was a great move for him to go to Liverpool and he has played well all season.

"He's shown that if you're playing well, you'll get picked, and I've got to follow that example and hopefully stay in this squad.

"For myself I need to stay 100 per cent fit and, with that, I need to play well when I get a chance.

"That's all I'm looking for this season. When I get the chance I've got to take it, and hopefully I can help the team as a result.

"During World Cup year, I think it's always in the back of you mind if you're playing well, then you'll keep getting selected which is every player's aim this season.

"It's great that England are in another World Cup and I'm sure, if you ask all the lads, they'll just be thinking about staying fit and hopefully getting selected for the squad next summer."

"It's always good in terms of your fitness to be playing games regularly. I've played the last few games for United and coming into England now that's a great confidence boost."

Despite being a more natural centre-half Brown has had to fill in at full-back for large parts of his career for United and England and admits that he does not have a preference to where he plays.

"Hopefully against Brazil, I might play a part. At the moment I'm really enjoying my football and I'm playing games so it's good for me right now," he added.

"Do I prefer right-back or centre-back? I think for me it's just important to be out on the pitch. As a youngster I was always a centre-back, but I've probably played 50 per cent of my games for United at right-back.

"As long as I'm out on the pitch, it really doesn't bother me where I'm playing."