It wasn't so much what he said as how he acted which gave the game away.

Paul Robinson, as confident a 22-year-old as you could ever wish to meet, tried desperately not to stir up the headlines ahead of his England debut against Portugal today.

Robinson impressed Sven-Goran Eriksson so much during a Champions League appearance against Lazio two years ago that his name became a recurring theme whenever an England squad was being formulated.

Though not allowed a single first-team appearance last year, he has now ousted Nigel Martyn from the Leeds side.

''He said I didn't have enough experience,'' said the Beverley-born goalkeeper when asked why David O'Leary had so abruptly ditched him after a run of 16 League appearances the year before.

What Robinson refused to respond to was the obvious follow-up as to how he was supposed to gain experience without being given the chance to play matches.

And, even more telling, while rejecting the notion that he had demanded a first-team place or he was leaving, was Robinson's reply to the thorny issue of whether he would have been content to spend yet another year in the Elland Road reserves.

''It is not a situation I have had to address but any professional would be lying if they said they enjoyed playing for the reserves.

''You want to be in the first team and I just had to keep working hard and try to get a spot.

''When the new manager came in I wanted to put the question to him with my own performances and make him think.''

Robinson got his chance when Martyn, tired after spending a frustrating summer on the England bench in the Far East, opted out of Leeds' pre-season tour to Australia.

Venables was satisfied with the outcome and now it is Martyn playing the role of understudy.

''There was a lot of speculation about me playing against Manchester City on the opening day but I wasn't told anything until the Friday morning,'' said Robinson, an impressive schoolboy midfield man.

''I used to clean Nigel's boots as an apprentice and I have always respected him. He is a lovely man and has been a big help to my career.

''There is a goalkeepers' union at every club and ours is no different. The situation has changed this year but I don't see that affecting our relationship.

"We get on well and always have done.''

At 36, Martyn is clearly not going to be prepared to hang around the fringes for long.

One possible £2m move to Southampton has already been turned down and if Robinson still holds sway in December, it is hard to envisage the Cornishman staying in West Yorkshire by the time the next transfer window opens.

And, if Robinson does keep his place, the likelihood is that he will have snatched Martyn's prized England berth as well.

While the rumours suggest David Seaman will be recalled when the European Championship qualifiers start next month, Robinson is the future, even if, by his own admission, he still has plenty to learn.

''I could never have imagined this was going to happen so quickly,'' he said.

''It is still a learning process and I want to take on board as much as I can this week. People talk about my age but if you are good enough you should be given a chance.

''There are a lot of experienced people around but in the heat of a game I will just treat them as I would anyone else.

''I remembered the nice things Sven said about me last year. I suppose it helped keep me going because it was a frustrating time.

''We have a new manager now and he has freshened things and made a few changes which seems to have made a difference to us.

''The fact there are five Leeds players in this England squad says a lot about the talent we have and although we haven't set ourselves any targets a club like Leeds should always be pushing for honours.''

Leeds supporters are hoping Lee Bowyer will look upon his England debut today as a reason to remain at Elland Road.

Bowyer is almost certain to start at Villa Park and so finally realise a dream.

The 25-year-old midfielder was found not guilty on charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and affray in relation to an assault on Asian student Sarfraz Najeib last December.

Despite a near two-year international ban imposed by the Football Association then lifted, debate raged as to whether he should ever be selected for England.

He will now get his chance, although his future continues to remain clouded with a five-year contract - on the table all year - unsigned.

After his exorbitant wage demands led to the collapse of a £9m summer move to Liverpool, an out-of-contract Bowyer looks poised to move on at the end of the season.

United fans desperately want Bowyer to stay at Elland Road, as witnessed by songs of 'sign your contract' following his goal against West Brom a fortnight ago.

''Representing England is a great honour for Lee and something which has been a long time coming,'' said Leeds' Supporters Club chairman Ray Fell.

''He has finally got the recognition his play has warranted and now it's up to him to grab this chance. As for his future, that is in his hands, and he seems to be aware of that. Terry Venables has played it carefully and is waiting to see how it develops.