Aston Villa's Curtis Davies plans to put his injury misery behind him and challenge for a place in the England squad for the 2010 World Cup.The Villa centre-back, currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles, has taken great heart from being part of Fabio Capello's initial squad of 30 for the friendly international with Switzerland in February.

Davies is targeting a return to action in early September but is already looking further ahead in terms of forcing his way into Capello's plans.

The former West Brom player said: "Next season I am aiming to come back fitter and stronger and push myself into the full England 23 and then maybe make a debut.

"The 2010 World Cup has got to be the aim if you have any ambition in the game.

"The fact I've been in the England 30 now gives me two years to push on and try to kick into that full squad. If I wasn't aiming for that then basically I'd be a loser.

"I'd be standing still. It is going to be hard with the strength England currently have in the centre-half positions. But I'm going to keep striving for it.

"It was a massive boost to get into that 30. I wasn't expecting to be in the shake-up even though I played a few games in front of Capello and I did okay in a couple of those games.

"I just wasn't expecting it and then I got the Achilles injury. But it gives you that carrot to aim for."

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