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Black Cats loan star Danny Welbeck is hoping to carry on where he left off for Sunderland against Manchester City last weekend and help England to victory over Portugal in tonight's vital game.

Welbeck told TheFA.com: "I've made a few substitute appearances for Sunderland and played pre-season at [Manchester] United, so I'm feeling good.

"When you're playing well for your club you grow in confidence, so playing more games gives you that spring in your step."

A win for England tonight would take them one step closer to the play-offs for the Finals in Denmark next year, but they also need to beat Lithuania on Tuesday in Colchester to keep their hopes of at least a top-four runners-up slot alive.

Welbeck continued: "We know what we have to do; win these next two games if we are going to qualify. It's going to be tough, but we're confident we can get the right result.

"The European Championship at Under-21 level is massive. I've played in the U17s and the U19s Finals, but this would be another big step if we could make it and show that I'm progressing personally too."