England Under-21 defender Ryan Bertrand is determined not to stand still this season as he looks to eventually make an impression at Chelsea.
The 18-year-old left-back has been loaned out to npower Championship promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest to gain more first-team experience, having also had successful spells at Norwich and Reading.
With the likes of Arsenal duo Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere - who could be recalled to the side by manager Stuart Pearce for the crucial 2011 European Championship qualifier against Lithuania in Colchester - benefiting by experiences away from their parent club, Bertrand is keen to continue his progression.
"It all depends what your position is at a club, and who else is in that role, but going out on loan is a fantastic thing to do," he said.
"You go out and play games instead of sitting still. It is important to develop. Going out on loan has benefited me."
Bertrand feels seeing the likes of Gibbs and Wilshere following in the footsteps of James Milner and Adam Johnson into the senior set-up can only work as an inspiration for all of the Young Lions squad.
"It is massively important," the Chelsea defender said.
"You see the boys who have gone up and done well, then managed to stay in the England team, it has benefited them really well.
"Probably more so now since I have been an England player I have noticed more of togetherness throughout the whole system - we all feel as one in terms of getting players up into the first team.
"It is all looking positive and it is important we do the best we can."
Part of that continuity has been because of Pearce's close involvement at the heart of Fabio Capello's coaching team.
The former Manchester City boss said: "In the players' mind, they feel the pathway from the youths into the Under-21s and then the seniors is probably a bit shorter than it has been in years gone by.
"They know my connection with the seniors, that I speak regularly with Fabio and that I am with both squads on a normal get together.
"We have developed more of a club feel if you like, rather than an international feel."
As part of the build-up to the game, which England must win to stand any chance of making it into the play-offs as one of the four best placed runners-up, Pearce took the squad to Colchester's Merville Barracks, home of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, who are soon to be deployed to Afghanistan on a six-month operation, and got the chance to try out weapons inside the battle simulator.
It was a humbling experience, and one from which the England coach hopes the squad can learn a great deal.
"We wanted to show our support to the Forces and I think they were pleased to see us," said the former England defender, who was nicknamed 'Psycho' during his playing days.
"Speaking to some of the soldiers, with their stories, showed how difficult their job is and how fortunate we are to do the job we do."
The 18-year-old left-back has been loaned out to npower Championship promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest to gain more first-team experience, having also had successful spells at Norwich and Reading.
With the likes of Arsenal duo Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere - who could be recalled to the side by manager Stuart Pearce for the crucial 2011 European Championship qualifier against Lithuania in Colchester - benefiting by experiences away from their parent club, Bertrand is keen to continue his progression.
"It all depends what your position is at a club, and who else is in that role, but going out on loan is a fantastic thing to do," he said.
"You go out and play games instead of sitting still. It is important to develop. Going out on loan has benefited me."
Bertrand feels seeing the likes of Gibbs and Wilshere following in the footsteps of James Milner and Adam Johnson into the senior set-up can only work as an inspiration for all of the Young Lions squad.
"It is massively important," the Chelsea defender said.
"You see the boys who have gone up and done well, then managed to stay in the England team, it has benefited them really well.
"Probably more so now since I have been an England player I have noticed more of togetherness throughout the whole system - we all feel as one in terms of getting players up into the first team.
"It is all looking positive and it is important we do the best we can."
Part of that continuity has been because of Pearce's close involvement at the heart of Fabio Capello's coaching team.
The former Manchester City boss said: "In the players' mind, they feel the pathway from the youths into the Under-21s and then the seniors is probably a bit shorter than it has been in years gone by.
"They know my connection with the seniors, that I speak regularly with Fabio and that I am with both squads on a normal get together.
"We have developed more of a club feel if you like, rather than an international feel."
As part of the build-up to the game, which England must win to stand any chance of making it into the play-offs as one of the four best placed runners-up, Pearce took the squad to Colchester's Merville Barracks, home of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, who are soon to be deployed to Afghanistan on a six-month operation, and got the chance to try out weapons inside the battle simulator.
It was a humbling experience, and one from which the England coach hopes the squad can learn a great deal.
"We wanted to show our support to the Forces and I think they were pleased to see us," said the former England defender, who was nicknamed 'Psycho' during his playing days.
"Speaking to some of the soldiers, with their stories, showed how difficult their job is and how fortunate we are to do the job we do."
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