Albert Riera is determined to make the most of his latest call-up to the Spain squad after the agony of missing out on this summer`s European Championship success.
Riera was summoned by new Spain boss Vicente del Bosque on Tuesday as an injury replacement for fellow left winger Diego Capel ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifying double-header against Estonia and Belgium.
The 26-year-old, who swapped Espanyol for Liverpool this summer, earned his first selection for Spain almost exactly a year ago when former coach Luis Aragones included him in his squad for the matches against Denmark and Iceland.
The Mallorca-born winger then scored a thunderbolt on his debut against the Danes and remained a part of Aragones' plans right up until the veteran coach named his final 23-man squad for the European Championships, when uncapped duo Santi Cazorla and Sergio Garcia were included but Riera was omitted.
Riera then had to watch on as Spain swept all aside them in Austria and Switzerland to land their first major trophy in 44 years.
The former Bordeaux and Manchester City winger is keen not to wallow in past disappointments though, and now he is hoping to make the most of this chance to impress new Spain chief Del Bosque.
"They called me yesterday and I came as soon as I could because to be called up to the national team is a reason to be happy and enthusiastic," said Riera, whose last appearance for Spain came in March's friendly win over Italy.
"I was angry not to be in the European Championship squad because I was convinced that they were going to have a great competition, but to feel sorry for yourself and look to the past doesn't do any good and now I have to try to be in the next tournament."
Spain will be looking to continue their 100% record in Group Five over the next week, which will see them face Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday and then travel to Brussels to face Belgium the following Wednesday.
In their opening two World Cup qualifiers at home, Spain beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 and Armenia 4-0 to move to the top of the standings, two points clear of nearest challengers Turkey and Belgium.
