Celtic winger Scott Sinclair targets England call-up

Scott Sinclair still harbours ambitions of playing for England and hopes his progress in the Champions League with Celtic can help him make his breakthrough.

The Celtic wide player has represented England at under-21 level and played for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics but has never won a full cap.

His Olympic appearance came just before an £8million move from Swansea to Manchester City but he struggled for first-team opportunities and his subsequent move to Aston Villa turned sour when his side were relegated.

However, a reunion with former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers in Glasgow has revived his career and the 27-year-old has already scored 10 goals this season.

When asked about his England hopes, Sinclair said: "When my time is right, it will come but at the moment I'm concentrating on playing week by week. If I can get into England that would be great but my ambitions are still to play for my country.

"I'm playing every week and scoring goals and getting back to form and I'm just enjoying my football again. That was the main reason for me coming here and I haven't looked back since.

"It's a start, it's still a long season. The main thing is keeping going. I won't be getting complacent. I have had a lot of experience of playing and not playing.

"I have been round football for what seems a long time. I definitely won't get complacent. I always work hard and I always do extra and I'm always trying to better myself."

Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster made his England debut while a Celtic player and Sinclair does not see playing in Scotland as an obstacle to his chances.

"If we can keep doing well in the Champions League and on a personal note playing games, then I don't see why I couldn't break in," said Sinclair.

"I wouldn't say there's any barrier. It's just how you do, if you're playing Champions League and doing it at that level, I don't see why not.

"The main thing is when you're playing every week you're building confidence and form. When you're not playing, your form goes. That was a big factor. Now my form is back and I'm scoring goals and we are winning games, I can't ask for much more."

While many of his team-mates were playing for their countries in recent days, Sinclair was given a break to refresh himself ahead of Friday's Ladbrokes Premiership match at Kilmarnock.

But he kept a close eye on the likes of Scott Brown and James Forrest as they lined up for Scotland in a 3-0 defeat by England.

"It was one of those games when Scotland did quite well in the first 30 minutes and once they conceded it sort of backed off," Sinclair said. "In international football you have to take your chances.

"I'm not too sure if there's a massive difference. In these kinds of games, when you have a chance you have to take it. You see the players playing for Scotland, there's quality there."