Martin O'Neill today completed the signing of James Milner from Newcastle and immediately tipped the youngster for senior England honours.

Milner has been capped 37 times at Under-21 level and joins Craig Gardner and Gabby Agbonlahor in Stuart Pearce's squad for next week's decisive European Championship qualifier against Portugal.

At 22 this is Milner's final campaign with the Under-21s but O'Neill is confident the winger can force his way into Fabio Capello's plans.

He told www.avfc.co.uk: "I think he can make a big impact with us. I firmly believe that and I have no doubt he will don an England shirt at some stage or another.

"That's an idle boast from me at this stage, but that's what I firmly believe. James has got plenty of drive and ambition. He's been a really good player for a number of years now and I just want that to carry on.

"I'm absolutely delighted he's here. Two years ago, almost to the day we thought we had him signed. He was coming down and then Newcastle recalled him at the last moment, which was their prerogative.

"Now two years on we've finally signed him. I'm really delighted. I think he's a top quality player and I think he's got a lot of improvement in his game. I'm just so, so pleased to have him.

"I'm not surprised there was plenty of interest in him - he's a quality player. I'm just pleased he's come here.

"I understand Kevin Keegan's disappointment that he's gone. I'm a football manager as well and I understand that you don't want to be losing players if you think they're quality players."

Including Curtis Davies, whose move from West Brom was made permanent this summer, Milner is the eighth new arrival in this window. And O'Neill is working hard to further bolster the squad.

He concluded: "If it's at all possible we will be working strenuously, right to the death on transfer deadline day. We're looking at a few things. If it doesn't materialise then we'll go with what we have. But we're still looking and it might be a possibility."

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