England midfielder Michael Carrick is looking to kick-start his international career

England midfielder Michael Carrick is looking to finally ignite his international career as he prepares to play his first meaningful qualifying game in six years against Moldova on Friday night.

Opportunity

Carrick added: "My ego is not that big that I think I should be playing every game for England. "But it is up to me now to play well enough to stay in the squad and play in the games ahead. "I could spend a lot of time thinking about it, but I cannot blame everyone else I need to look at me as well and maybe at times I haven't played well enough to get in the team. "I am not blaming anyone for that. It is what it is and now as I keep saying it is an opportunity to start afresh and look to the future and not keep looking back. "If I am playing well enough, I am confident I can get in the team but it is up to me to do that and obviously then the manager to pick me. "I am more than capable when I play well and play at my best to be part of the team." Carrick is aware he has to make personal sacrifices if he is to make the most of the time left with England. He said: "I have two children and a wife and they are a big part of my life but how long have I got left (with England)? "It's hard. It was my little girl's first day at school this week and, going back to the 2010 World Cup, my little boy was born a week before the tournament. "He was seven weeks old when I got back and I had only seen him for five days. "That comes into it but I have to put that to one side and make the most of what I have left." Carrick's only qualifying game since 2006 was the trip to Ukraine in 2009 but that was a dead rubber as England had already booked their place in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.