England coach Fabio Capello is keeping a constant eye on the crop of home-grown talent at Aston Villa and will again watch Martin O'Neill's side in action on Sunday when they tackle Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a Barclays Premier League top-three meeting.

But Young said: "I get asked quite a bit about my own England prospects. If I am being perfectly honest with you, I haven't been on the pitch with England for three years and it is something that may have passed me by at the age of 29."

He added: "If I ever was playing well enough to get called up for England, I'd love to go - but it is not something in the forefront of my mind at the moment.

decent season

"I've just come to a new club and I want to try and bed myself into the starting XI at Villa. If I got picked, I'd love to be involved.

"But I couldn't have played any better than I did last season at Boro. I had a decent season and people were saying then I was there or thereabouts and I didn't get a chance.

"I am not going to rule myself out of it but, at the minute, it doesn't look like I am knocking on the door.

"Of course, it gives you encouragement that Capello is having a look at a lot of the younger lads at Villa but I'm just going to do what I can at club level.

"If it is good enough to get me a chance, then great."