AS England prepare for their European Championship qualifying campaign, one Newcastle United player has to sit back and wonder: "What happened."

Magpies right-back Andy Griffin was part of an England Under-21 side that was full of potential.

But while many of the national team's young guns have gone on to win full international honours - a number are in the latest squad for tomorrow's clash with Slovakia - Griffin has been forced to battle it out in reserve team football.

But now the 23-year-old is delighted to be back in first-team action and he is determined to stay there and make himself a regular in Sir Bobby Robson's Premiership side.

"Wayne Bridge, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, Jonathan Woodgate, Paul Robinson, Alan Smith and David Dunn have all made the step up from the Under 21s," said the former Stoke City man.

"I used to be in the same Under-21s as those names, but where they have moved up, I slowed down.

"There will also be another one in there soon, as I don't think it will be too long before Jermain Defoe gets the nod. He is doing well at West Ham.

"All of those players, with the exception of Defoe, have all shown they can make the step up with ease and they are doing well.

"Hopefully I can really start to make a name for myself again and start to get noticed. Then who knows I might get my chance."

Griffin has started all six of Newcastle's matches since their defeat to Dynamo Kiev on September 18. And the determined defender is aiming to keep hold of his place at club level and he hopes, one day, he will be back playing for his country. Griffin is convinced that there are four players ahead of him in the pecking order and he hopes England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will be impressed enough to select him.

"It's got to be my aim to be in the squads," said Griffin, who earned two Under-21 caps.

"There's not a lot of natural right-backs, just as there is a shortage of left-backs in England.

"There is Danny Mills, Gary Neville, possibly Phil Neville and Luke Young, and then there's myself competing for that position.

"But if I'm playing week in and week out at Newcastle then I don't see any players getting in my way."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.