TATTOOED across Anton Ferdinand’s left forearm are the words ‘I will believe to achieve’, acting as a reminder to the Sunderland defender of the dedication and determination to succeed in life.

As his elder brother prepares to play for England in Spain tonight, the tattoo keeps him focused on trying to fulfil his own personal goals, one of which is to partner Rio at the heart of the national side’s defence.

It is a long-standing wish of father Julian to witness Rio and Anton representing their country together. Anton, however, tries not to become too bogged down in attempting to follow his brother’s lead, instead concentrating on his own approach to life.

The motto ‘I will believe to achieve’ is one that has stuck with him since his teenage years at Blackheath Bluecoat Church of England School, after regular chats with one of his mentors kept him away from trouble in his south east London roots.

A professional football contract with West Ham United was his reward, and Ferdinand has continued to abide by that rule to life.

“I have had the tattoo for about four years,” said Ferdinand, who turns 24 a week today. “It is something that came up when I was at school. There was a man called Terry McCarthy who I used to talk to, he used to take some of my lessons and we’d chat about things, he was like a counsellor to me.

“He once said to me ‘To achieve anything in life what do you have to do?’ I said ‘you have got to believe in yourself.’ Together we came up with the saying ‘I will believe to achieve’. Terry put that into my head and I have lived by that ever since.

“If you think about anything in life, not just football, if you want to be a great dad, a great lawyer or family man, you have to believe you can do it. If you don’t believe, you won’t do it. I keep telling myself that.”

Having earned 17 caps for the England Under-21s, he has set his sights on eventually stepping on to the senior stage, where Rio – six years his senior – has established himself among the world’s most accomplished defenders.

Anton, however, insists he is not overly worried about the absence of a call-up. Instead he feels succeeding at Sunderland should lead to an England call at some stage.

“Life’s about sacrifices. If you want to achieve something you have to sacrifice something. That’s the way life is,” he said. “No matter what I achieve or have achieved I remind myself of that saying. It’s like this season, I’m desperate to achieve a great season with Sunderland and a good season for me personally. I have career goals but I keep them to myself.”

He added: “England is not something that concerns me right now. I’m not thinking about that and I’m just concentrating on playing well. If the opportunity comes along I will be happy, but all I am doing is thinking about playing well for Sunderland.

“If my form for Sunderland gets me into the England squad then fine, if it doesn’t then I have to work harder and harder. If I did think about it I would get bogged down, I don’t want to get like that.”

Ferdinand is not the only Sunderland player with international ambitions and striker Djibril Cisse has been told a recall to the French squad is just around the corner.

Cisse has found the net ten times since moving from Marseille on loan but was overlooked to add to his 19 caps for tonight’s high-profile friendly with Argentina in Paris. He will also not be included for the double-header with Lithuania at the end of March.

But French coach Raymond Domenech said: “Djibril will be back. He has real international potential. But regarding the strategy of the games against Lithuania. It was not the right moment.”

■ Sunderland’s reserve match at Hull City last night was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.