David James may be approaching his 38th birthday, but the England goalkeeper maintains he has never been more mentally prepared to play at the highest level.

The Portsmouth stopper, capped 37 times, thought he may never get the chance to pull on the international jersey again after being left out in the cold by former head coach Steve McClaren.

However, James was between the posts again at Wembley for Fabio Capello's opening game in charge last month, and intends to do all he can to remain first choice for his country.

It has, though, been a long and often difficult learning curve for the former Watford trainee, who has found himself reborn at Fratton Park under Harry Redknapp following spells at Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester City after the end of his troubled seven-year stint with Liverpool in 1999.

Yet James - who once put down his poor form to hours spent playing video games - believes he is stronger for the experience.

"When Mr McClaren took over he gave me the phone call and said I wouldn't be needed, and the question I asked myself was: 'What was going to happen?"' James recalled.

"But the environment I have at Portsmouth is very good. If I did well, I would be in the frame.

"When Mr Capello came in, there was an opportunity for him to bring in a new regime.

"However, at the same time I would not have retired because I felt my work was good enough for Portsmouth.

"I was happy for the call-up and even more so that I was able to play 90 minutes in his first game."

James revealed he would now be more likely to be found using a Nintendo DS to help with "Brain Training" as part of getting his mental focus right.

"For the last eight years I've been working on the psychological things. I find myself in the shower imagining shots, refreshing myself more than anything else. It's about the imagery," he continued.

"I imagine how things should be, which gives me a platform.

"The physical side of things, diving about, is all well and good - but if you're not mentally there then you won't get the best out of you."

James feels he can go on to remain competitive in the England camp right up to the next World Cup in 2010, which would take him close to his 40th birthday.

"If I didn't feel I could do it, I wouldn't be here," the Portsmouth veteran declared.

"I am happy, a different person to what I was 10 years ago - and I am enjoying it.

"I am not going to get worried about losing games if I can't do much about it.

"I spent years and years not being happy about football.

"It was a strive for perfection and that's an impossible dream.

"I would be playing games, winning 3-1 and being in a strop because I let in a penalty. It's not the right way to go, it is not healthy."

James maintained: "I am more dedicated now than I was at Liverpool, without a doubt.

"My time at Liverpool was unsuccessful in many different ways, for the club and me as an individual.

"A lot of what I did there, unfortunately for the Liverpool supporters, was a major learning tool for me.

"It is now all about understanding what I need to do and when I need to do it.

"I am getting focus in the right areas now."

Former England captain David Beckham, now playing in the United States with Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles Galaxy, could win his 100th cap on Wednesday night.

James hailed Beckham as an "all-time great" and felt the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder should not have been waiting until now to reach his personal milestone.

The goalkeeper recalled: "When I was first in the England squad and David would be there in training, practising his free-kicks into the corner, on to the crossbar, and doing all these annoying things - annoying because he was perfect.

"Yet then when he was scoring goals in matches just like he was in practice, then you realise there was a value to what he was doing."

James and the rest of the England squad are role models to millions of youngsters.

The Portsmouth keeper feels they have a responsibility to help shape the next generation.

The Football Association recently launched a new RESPECT initiative aimed at improving the conduct towards match officials, which is being piloted at the grassroots level.

However, no sooner, though, had the scheme been announced, then there were two high-profile examples of questionable behaviour from Chelsea defender Ashley Cole and, on Sunday, Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.

James accepts players have to do what they can to ensure youngsters get the right message from their sporting idols.

He said: "If the Premier League or the FA have rulings on things, you can't conduct yourself in that manner.

"It is a complex issue, but it is not right. However, it has always gone on.

"Technology highlights everything - things are being picked up now that weren't before. Hopefully that is a reason to get it sorted out."

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