Leicester City winger Demarai Gray is still eyeing a late World Cup call after being handed the England under-21 captaincy.
Gray was skipper for the first time and scored in the 2-1 friendly win over Romania on Saturday as the Young Lions prepared to face Ukraine.
Though he has scored four goals in 36 appearances for Leicester this season, he has yet to earn a senior England call from Gareth Southgate but has not given up hope of playing in Russia this summer.
"I'm still 21, but my experience is that nothing is too soon, anything is round the corner," Gray said. "I've just got to knuckle down and do what I do and see what comes.
"Of course, at my age, I've got my personal targets and aspirations and it's good to see Lewis [Cook] now, and obviously Tammy [Abraham] and Dom [Solanke] went to the last camp with the first team."
Gray said he is not disappointed to have not yet received an invitation to England camp and that he trusts Southgate will reach out when it is his time.
"But it shows the England manager has got faith in young players and if you're doing well when you come and perform here and at your clubs then everyone's got a chance," Gray said.
"So for me, personally, I want to be up there and keep working hard and knuckling down. I believe in myself and believe my time will come."
Gray scored his sixth under-21 goal when he opened the scoring at Molineux before debutant Jake Clarke-Salter made it 2-0 in the second half.
Valentin Costache pulled a goal back for Romania, who gave the Young Lions a fiercely competitive game ahead of Tuesday's Euro 2019 qualifier against Ukraine in Sheffield.
The friendly was named the Cyrille Regis International in honour of the former England, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker who died in January.
"I'm quite humble with my achievements, but I think this one is one of my proudest ones," Gray said. "Representing your country and also the occasion for Cyrille Regis was nice to captain. To get the win made it even better.
"It was a big honour for me and my family, and being a local boy, it was nice to have them come down and watch."