Paul Robinson is hoping that back-to-back clean sheets have been enough to guarantee his place in the England team.

The Tottenham goalkeeper started the season as second-choice to David James but, after playing in the friendly win over Ukraine, the latter lived up to his "calamity" tag with a catastrophic error in September's 2-2 draw in Austria.

Sven Goran Eriksson promoted Robinson to the starting line-up for the following week's crunch clash in Poland and, after helping England to a vital 2-1 win, the 25-year-old has kept hold of the gloves as his side have eased to the top of World Cup Qualifying Group Six.

His six subsequent appearances have included five clean sheets - the only goal conceded came in November's friendly in Spain - and, while James continues to impress for Manchester City, it is Robinson who has made the international spot his own.

"I'd like to think I've cemented my place in the England side now," said the former Leeds stopper, who won his first cap as a substitute against Australia in 2003.

"I've played seven games in a row now and I've kept five clean sheets. That's something I'm obviously very pleased about.

"I wouldn't say I'm relaxed about my position because, when you're playing for England, you've got to prove yourself every single game.

"But I was ready for it from the start. I'd been waiting for a long time and I'd been around the squad for a long time.

"Things are going well but, when you're playing behind such a quality team, it's all about keeping your concentration right to the end."

Robinson sprang to prominence when he replaced Nigel Martyn at Leeds, although his senior debut came much earlier when, as a fresh-faced teenager, he kept a clean sheet against Chelsea in 1998.

The Beverley-born stopper came through the same Academy that produced the likes of Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Smith and Harry Kewell - three players who have also left Elland Road.

Smith was a surprise omission from last week's England squad, but another one of Robinson's former team-mates lined up alongside him at both Old Trafford and St James' Park.

The goalkeeper was little more than a promising youngster when Rio Ferdinand made an £18m move to West Yorkshire from West Ham in November 2000 but, even at that stage, his immense promise was still shining through.

"He would have been 19 when I first went to Leeds," remembered Ferdinand. "But he's always had great ability - that was apparent even then.

"His distribution is probably as good as anyone you might care to mention, and he makes great saves.

"I think Paul's a top keeper. He's England number one at the moment and he's playing well.

"He's the keeper with the jersey, but there are keepers behind him with talent as well. David James and Robert Green are both waiting in the wings hoping to get a chance."

Robinson might not have had a lot to do in either of this week's games but, on the rare occasions he was called upon, he was not found wanting.

He made late saves against both Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan, despite having had next to nothing to do during the rest of either game.

"He made a superb save right at the end of Wednesday's game," said Ferdinand. "But being a goalkeeper at international level is all about being consistent and making saves when they're needed.

"If you're going to be the goalkeeper for England, there are going to be some games where you're doing nothing for 89 minutes then you'll be called upon to make a save. That's what happened on Wednesday.

"Games like that are built on concentration from the guys at the back and the goalkeeper.

"Over the last two games, we've concentrated well. The onus to attack has been on us because we've been the home team and the team expected to win.

"But that only happens if the guys at the back stay concentrated, and that's exactly what I thought we did."

* Paul Scholes has warned Sven-Goran Eriksson not to waste his breath by trying to talk him into an England comeback.

The Manchester United midfielder surprisingly quit the international scene following last summer's European Championships, claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Although the decision solved a difficult selection dilemma for Eriksson, allowing him to partner Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in central midfield, the England coach claimed a fortnight ago that he would make another attempt to get Scholes back on board.

But the 30-year-old star said: ''I still feel I've made the right decision.

"It is nice to know you're still wanted but I am happy with what I did and I have not changed my mind."