Zaha Using Euro 2013 as Preparation for Manchester United Move

Young striker Wilfried Zaha striker enhanced his growing reputation with his first goal for the England Under-21s, against Romania on Thursday 22 March, but still says he is astounded by his meteoric rise.

After making his full England debut last November and then securing a move to Manchester United in the January transfer window, Zaha capped a remarkable five months with a superbly taken opener at Adams Park.

Further goals from substitutes Jack Robinson and Nathan Delfouneso helped secure an eighth successive win for Stuart Pearce's side ahead of the Under-21 European Championships in Israel this summer, another stage where Zaha might showcase his potential.

The Crystal Palace winger, on loan from Old Trafford, says this summer provides the platform to defy his critics but admits acclimatising to his high-profile team-mates is a near impossible task.

"It will just be good practice for me for when I go into pre-season with Manchester United so it's a chance to go out on the big stage," Zaha said.

Although Zaha has already trained alongside some of his future United team-mates during his call-up to the full England squad, he admits playing alongside such players on a regular basis will present an altogether different challenge.

"I don't think I'll get used to it, watching them on Match of the Day for so many years and actually being called up to play with them, wear the England shirt and play alongside them was just a dream really so I don't think I'll get used to that.

"It was a dream to get into the whole England set-up. I was just happy to be part of it and the goal was just to get to the Under-21s.

"I do feel the pressure, but the hardest thing is just to cope with it. I've had to get my head down and obviously I'm there for a reason and I've just got to practise really and when I get out there I've got to prove.

"It means a lot to me because of all the good stuff I hear, how I'm good and stuff and people call me a good player, there's many people who call me overrated as well so this gives me a good chance to show people what I'm about and how I got to where I am now."

Zaha's successful link-up with Liverpool's Raheem Sterling during England's penultimate warm-up game ahead of Euro 2013, not least his opening goal, suggests coach Stuart Pearce appears to have solved his striking dilemma for the summer finals.

Although Zaha's appearances as a central striker for Palace have been rare, Stuart Pearce has regularly used him in a striking role and the prospect of leading the line carries no fear.

"He [Pearce] told me to keep making the runs really and not to come too deep but to just stay up top and stay in and around the goal and get a chance," Zaha added.

"To be honest I played out on the wing for Palace the whole time, I'm used to playing up top for the youth team. It's not anything I've thought of doing again but I've enjoyed it so it's something I'll have my mind on in the future.

"Me and Raheem, since we met, have just got that connection because he's got that banter and the fact that we went to the seniors together as well made a bond in our friendship."