Jenas has designs on England slot

Jermaine Jenas is confident he can one day succeed Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard as the heartbeat of the England midfield.

The 22-year-old has caught the eye with his all-action displays for Tottenham following a £7m transfer from Newcastle on the final day of the August transfer window.

Having already won 14 caps and been involved in most of the qualifying matches for the World Cup, Jenas hopes such sustained club form for the rest of the campaign will leave Sven-Goran Eriksson with little option but to include him in the final 23-man England squad.

Jenas feels working with the likes of Lampard, Gerrard and skipper David Beckham can only improve his game – and lead to a future integral role for himself within the England starting XI.

“I have been involved in most of the squads during the qualifying stages. We have had a great influx of young talent in midfield, but I am one of them and if I can keep progressing here at Spurs, then I don’t see why not,” said Jenas.

“I have time on my side and it is great to be there training with the likes of Lamps and Stevie – but eventually I am going to want to break through.

“You have got to be very confident in your own ability, especially in today’s game with the standard of players you have got around the England team.

“You have got to be confident you are going to be able to take their position at one stage and understand it is going to be a lot of hard work, but you have to believe in your ability.”

Jenas knows, though, first and foremost he must continue to prduce the goods for his club week in, week out before he can let his focus turn to Germany next summer.

“Spurs is my bread and butter, and as long as I am doing it here, then I am sure the rewards will come at international level,” said the midfielder, who smashed in a fine free-kick during the recent 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

“When there is a World Cup at the end of the season, all players, whatever nationality, want to be in the final squad.

“You could say certain players have raised their game because they have that at the back of their mind, but with the amount of midfield players we have here at Spurs anyway, you have to be on your toes to be playing week in, week out.”

Jenas firmly believes England can be contenders in 2006.

“If you look at the squad we have, then we definitely have got a great chance,” he declared.

“Maybe that last month of the qualifiers was not the best for us, but they were the only two where you could say that.”

The former England Under-19 captain added: “With the Ashes, it was great to see the way the country came together.

“And no disrespect to cricket, but I think if the footballers managed to win the World Cup it would be unreal.”

Jenas could be competing with Spurs team-mates Michael Carrick and the versatile Ledley King – who stepped up from defence into a holding midfield role against Poland – for a place in Eriksson’s final World Cup squad.

And the youngster hopes his own adaptability will perhaps give him an edge,

“I think central midfield, from box to box is my natural position, but I have always from a young age been able to adapt,” said Jenas.

“I have played in that holding role if needs be, and have also enjoyed the attacking role.”

Jenas added: “The couple of goals have given me extra confidence that maybe I was lacking and I have settled down into a position that I am going to have to play and can understand it.”

Tottenham have started well this season, with their only league defeat from 11 games coming at the hands of leaders Chelsea.

On Monday night, Martin Jol takes his men to Bolton, who have also impressed as they fight for another top-six finish.

Jenas knows it will be a tough encounter.

He declared: “Bolton will be a different type of game, and we basically have to stand up and be counted.

“It is not going to be pretty, but we have got to be aggressive.

“They are aggressive throughout the team and put balls into difficult areas.”

Jenas added: “It is tight up there [at the top of the league] – but we are a young side and as long as we can keep progressing, then hopefully we will stay in and around that area.”