Nike Release England Matters Episode 2 - Football News

Leading up to tonight's World Cup qualifier between England and Moldova, Nike have released the next chapter in the "England Matters" series. Episode 2: Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley follows the England and Manchester United teammates as they prepare for and perform in the recent victory over Scotland.

Teammates since the age of 12, Welbeck and Cleverley have progressed through the ranks with both club and country, and in this new installment of Nike's video series they discuss their close bond on and off the pitch, their aspirations and how it feels to be a part of the England squad. Behind-the-scenes access at St George’s Park and match footage from Wembley provide insight into life in the England camp.





Cleverley, who provided a perfectly-weighted assist for Theo Walcott’s goal, is clear on the significance of the national team and the responsibility the players shoulder: “I’ve been there as a fan - it’s frustrating when you can’t do anything about the game, but I’m one of the lucky ones who can actually do something about it on the pitch."

Relishing the opportunity to learn from the senior players in the squad, Cleverley talks about the inspiration he draws from Ashley Cole reaching 100 caps and looks ahead to the team’s prospects in the coming years. “I think the future looks bright for England. We’ve got a lot of technical players now, people like Jack Wilshere and Ox – hopefully we can have success at tournaments.”



Injured for the Brazil friendly, Welbeck marked his return with a goal at Wembley and is determined to carve out a successful international career. “You can always keep on improving, keep on going every single day," said Welbeck. "Once I retire I just hope that I’ve served my country well, played some very important games, and I want to go to a major tournament and obviously try to win a trophy as well.”

Welbeck Starts tonight while Cleverley is on the bench for what should be a routine England win. What do you think the second chapter of 'England Matters'? Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.