James Milner has Gareth Barry filled

He's already done it for his club - now Villa midfielder James Milner is confident he could fill Gareth Barry's boots for his country.

With just three weeks to go until the World Cup kicks off, Barry faces a race against time to make the plane for South Africa struggling with an ankle injury.

The former Villa skipper must prove he has recovered from the injury by June 1 - the day coach national coach Fabio Capello trims his 30-man squad down to his final 23.

His absence would undoubtedly come as a blow with the Manchester City midfielder having been a mainstay of the midfield since Capello took charge, playing the anchoring role.

Milner, this week the subject of a failed £20million offer from City to follow Barry to Eastlands, would be one of the leading candidates to step in.

Last season the 24-year-old effortlessly slotted into the centre to fill the void left by Barry, picking up the PFA Young Player of the Year award along the way.

There has been no shortage of compliments from Capello either, with the former Real Madrid and AC Milan coach referring to Villa's £12m club record signing as "my future" and England's most improved player.

And Milner is confident he could make a similar impact on the biggest stage of all.

He said: "It is down to the manager. If he asks me to play there, I'll play there. I've played there most of the season. I'm happy there, there is no difference to playing there than with your club.

"All I can concentrate on is doing as well as I can in training and in these two games. Forcing my way into the World Cup squad is all I am concentrating on. Then everything else takes care of itself.

"My attributes are probably more suited to going forward and creating things.

"But wherever I am asked to play, I'll do it to the best of my ability and try to adapt to the role and learn the role as best as possible."

No stone has been left unturned when it comes to preparation, with England's squad in Austria this week to train at altitude to help gear up for what awaits in South Africa.

Milner said: "I think it will help. I haven't found too much difference at the moment but it affects everyone differently.

"The objective is to get us as prepared as possible for the World Cup and hopefully we will go there as prepared as possible.

"It has been a long season and a lot of players have played a lot of games, but the staff ensure we get looked after.

"We were lucky to have a few days off last week after the season finished, so we have come here feeling very fresh.

"An hour a day we have a machine where we put a mask on, five minutes on, five minutes off, so it prepares us for altitude.

"You are just sat in your room, keeping it on and take it off. It is pretty boring but it has to be done and if it prepares you for the World Cup, then great.

"I think it reduces the amount of oxygen which goes into your body, then it monitors how much oxygen is in your blood and your heart rate as well.

"Then as the week goes on the programme changes and makes it less oxygen, so your body adapts.

"As you take it off to start with, you maybe feel slightly light headed but as the weeks go on, the more you get used to it.

"Hopefully playing at altitude will be playing like normal."

Despite being a virtual certainty to make England's final 23, Milner is adamant no one is taking their place for granted.

He added: "Everyone wants to be in the 23 and the only way you can do that is by performing in the games and at training every day and being watched all the time, how you are in the hotel, around the hotel, and if you are a good traveller because you are going to be away a long time.

"You are being watched all the time and all these little things add up. Everyone will give it their best and the training is going to be top tempo.

"I'll just keep playing as well as I can and hopefully force my way into the 23. The World Cup is the biggest competition you can play in.

"The whole world is watching. but you play in the Premier League and there are pressures there week in and week out.

"As a player, you want to play against the best players, test yourself and play in the best tournaments, whether it's the Champions League or World Cup.

"Every player is desperate to get on the plane and prove themselves on the biggest stage.

"Out and about, you go into Tesco and there is an England chocolate bar and you can sense the fever and the expectation and excitement.

"It is great to be part of that at home every time a tournament comes around but this is one year you don't want to be part of it at home, you want to be there doing it."