BEN GIBSON is ignoring the mounting speculation linking him with a possible call-up to the England team, and insists his sole focus is on establishing himself as a proven Premier League player.

Sam Allardyce will name his first squad since succeeding Roy Hodgson on Sunday, and Gibson has been touted as a potential surprise inclusion as England’s new boss looks to remodel his back four.

The Boro centre-half was a regular at Under-21 level under Gareth Southgate, but is no longer eligible in that age group having turned 23 in March.

He has made a strong start to the current campaign, impressing in Boro’s 1-1 draw with Stoke City and their 2-1 win over Sunderland, and is one of the few young English defenders holding down a regular starting spot in the top-flight.

Progressing to the senior England team is one of his long-term ambitions, but having only made his Premier League debut less than a fortnight ago, he is not about to get carried away at such an early stage of his development.

“For me, it’s one step at a time,” said Gibson. “That (playing for England) seems like a million miles away.

“It was only a few months ago when I was playing in the Championship, and if Brighton had scored in the last minute, then I’d still be playing in the Championship, so for me as a player, nothing has changed. It’s just that I’m playing against better players and in a higher league.

“Obviously, there’s a bit of a window of publicity, more eyes watching you and against better players, but I’ve had only just started in the Premier League.

“I’ve played (a couple of) games, but that doesn’t mean I’m a Premier League player. I’ve got to go on and establish myself in this team because it’s a new team, and I have to establish myself in this league.”

Having helped contain Jermain Defoe last weekend, Gibson will face another of the Premier League’s most highly-rated English forwards on Sunday when he lines up against a West Brom side featuring Saido Berahino.

The pair were part of the same England team at Under-21 level, and Gibson is relishing the chance to test himself against the country’s leading forwards on a weekly basis in the top-flight.

“It’s sink or swim, isn’t it,” he said. “It either brings the best out of you and you swim, or you let them get on top of you and you sink. It’s a fantastic opportunity.

“You want to play against the best names. I previously sampled it when I played for the England Under-21s and was training with the likes of Harry Kane and Saido Berahino, and absolutely loved it.

“I used to come away from there and think, ‘I want to test myself against these players every week, and now I’ve got the opportunity to do that’.

“It makes you a better player and more aware. You know you’ve got to be on top of your game, otherwise if you’re not and you give them one inch, you know they’re going to score.”

Gibson will be part of a remodelled backline at the Hawthorns, with Antonio Barragan expected to line up left-back in the anticipated absence of injured duo George Friend and Fabio da Silva.