‘I want to show what I can do on an international stage’ – Ipswich Town’s Connor Wickham out to impress for England Under-21s against Denmark

Carling Cup : Connor Wickham – Denilson, Ipswich Town v Arsenal(getty Images)

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Ipswich Town‘s Connor Wickham has made a hugely impressive impact at Portman Road since making his debut as a 16-year-old back in 2009, and is hoping that he can attract even more plaudits by performing well for England Under-21s against Denmark on Thursday evening.

The teenager has already turned out for Stuart Pearce’s young Three Lions at just 17 years old and has played over 50 times for his club side, with teams such as Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham thought to be interested in his services.

Goal.com UK reported back in December that Wickham favours a move to the Emirates or White Hart Lane over a switch to Merseyside although the striker insists he is just concentrating on performing well: “Hopefully, I can go out there against Denmark Under-21s and impress.

“I just want to show everyone what I can do on an international stage.

“When I have been away on ­international duty, all the coaches have praised me and pushed me in the right direction and given me advice.

“I am taking all the advice on board and using it to my advantage.

“Even to be in the team is great and is a motivation for me. I have to push on and want to keep doing what I am doing.

“To play football for England and to win the awards I am winning shows I have the right people around me.”

Wickham picked up the award for the Football League’s Young Player of the Season on Sunday night and is understandably delighted with how his young career is going.

He continued:  “This season is really going to plan.

“Last season ended on a high, the start of this one didn’t get off to a great start but it is nice to get back on track and achieve what I have and receive the support I’ve had.

“To be so highly rated is amazing. But all I can do is keep working hard on my football.

“I am signed to Ipswich for the next few years and I want to get them up to the Premier League.

“Now there is a good confidence in the dressing room and we can really push on next season under Paul Jewell.”