Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng believes team-mate David Wheater will establish himself as England's first-choice central defender after he was named in Fabio Capello's 30-man squad for next week's friendly clash with France.

Wheater may not make the final cut for the match but Boateng is confident the England Under-21 international can make the step up and establish himself in the team.

And he has told the 21-year-old to set his sights on the next World Cup.

"In a few years' time this boy is going to be England's first-choice at centre-back - if he stays the way he is and develops his game really well," said Boateng.

"For us and for him, it is a great achievement and the fact he has already made the squad means, going towards qualification for the World Cup, if you keep playing well you have a good chance of playing a the World Cup.

"That's what he has to look at. The bigger picture is playing maybe not now, but the next international games. The World Cup qualification starts later this year, so that's what he has to look at.

"The fact he has been selected now means the door is open. Can you perform well to go through that door?"

Wheater's rise to prominence has been remarkable - he spent part of last season on loan at League Two Darlington and started the current campaign as fifth-choice central defender at the Riverside Stadium.

But a combination of injuries and his stunning form have seen him rise to the fore to such an extent manager Gareth Southgate was even prepared to sell seasoned campaigner Jonathan Woodgate to Tottenham in January.

Southgate has worked hard to keep the youngster grounded throughout the campaign, and joked Capello had done him no favours.

"There we are trying to keep his feet on the ground and people are calling him into England squads," he said.

"I don't think we have seen him, he has been on an open-top bus since he got to know. He is probably in the middle of Redcar now signing autographs."

However, Southgate, who was himself capped 57 times by England, is delighted Wheater's meteoric rise has been recognised.

And while he knows the player has a lot to learn, he believes he has a bright future ahead of him.

"The key for David at the moment is, as I have said all along this season, there is an innocence about him and there is no fear in his play," he added.

"That happens at the beginning of your career and we have to keep that period going for as long as we possibly can.

"He thoroughly deserves it. His performances this year have been outstanding, he is maturing all the time and it is the next stage for him.

"We spoke about this with him when we were signing his new contract. There are loads of targets for him still to hit, and what he has done this year he has got to repeat year after year.

"But to get into that provisional squad is a great starting point for him. Hopefully, he is involved in the full squad and the experience will be fantastic for him."

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