Milner: Stability suits me

Aston Villa's James Milner believes he is benefiting from the most settled period of his career.

The midfielder is looking to cement his place in England coach Fabio Capello's plans.

Milner burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old with Leeds United at the same time Wayne Rooney was starting to make an impact with Everton.

But the midfielder feels the off-field problems at Elland Road and then Newcastle United, plus a string of different managers, was not the ideal scenario.

That has changed under Martin O'Neill at Villa and the solid ownership of Randy Lerner, and Milner has forced his way into Capello's squad, retaining his place for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers with Ukraine and Belarus.

Milner said: "This is the most settled period of my career. I've never started and finished a season with the same manager and hopefully this will be the first season.

"To have that stability off the field as well, with a club which is run very well, where the owner has been fantastic, with the players that have been signed, is fantastic.

"It is being built for the future. In the past I've been unfortunate with Leeds and Newcastle, two great clubs going through tough periods and changing managers is not easy.

"As much as you like to concentrate on your on-field form, it does get to players when you don't know how long your manager is going to be there and finances and stuff like that."

Milner has won a record number of Under-21 caps and now has added three senior ones to his tally but the goal is to stay in the squad.

He said: "When you are working as hard as you can all the way through your career, and played a lot of Under-21 games, to get the first full caps is nice and just gets that out of the way.

"I don't think it ever played on my mind. It is your aim to play for England and now I've done that and the next aim is to stay in the squad and stay in the team.

"It's nice to move that goal on one more time and stepping up a level, to keep getting in the squads and pushing for a place in the team.

"I don't think it adds to my confidence. It might change the way other people feel about you but obviously you've got that self-belief and confidence in your ability."