The Aston Villa man earned his fourth senior cap on Friday night as Roy Hodgson’s men ran out comfortable 4-0 winners against Lithuania to extend their 100 per cent run to seven games.
Italy v England
International Match
7.45pm (BST), Tuesday 31 March 2015
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Live on ITV
Delph was in the heart of midfield, alongside Carrick and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, and with their trip to Italy coming up on Tuesday he says he can learn from a player he "really admires".
"He is a great guy, he has been great with me and it was pleasure to play with him the other night,” Delph said of Carrick, who has one Champions League and five Premier League winners’ medals in his collection.
"He is calm in possession, great on the ball and he is an experienced head. It's definitely going to help me playing with him.
"I have watched him over the years and I really, really admire the way he plays.
"Hopefully I can pick up some things that he does and try to implement it in my own game."
The game against Lithuania was Delph's fourth cap
He continued: “I think real football people can see what he does and how he effects games, how he controls games.
"I don't think he is unappreciated, definitely not from me anyway. I see all his strengths and I get really excited when I look to my left and he's there, when I am training with him or when I see him around the building.
"I am really excited to play with him and learn from him."
Delph made his first appearance for the Three Lions at the start of this season and only an injury in November has stopped him from being an ever-present in Hodgson’s squad since then.
Having shone in the Premier League and helped Villa reach the semi-final of The FA Cup this campaign, the 25-year-old Yorkshireman hopes his impressive form can see him cement his place in the England side.
Delph reveals his choice for player of the year
But with France in 2016 in everybody’s sights he knows it will require hard work and consistent displays for both club and country.
"There is competition there for places and I have managed to get a few caps recently. If I keep performing for my club I will keep getting games,” he said.
“I have got one eye on [Euro 2016] but I take each squad as it comes and if I keep performing well then good things will happen.
Italy in Turin on Tuesday is, on paper, the toughest test England will have faced this season. The nations' most recent meeting was at the World Cup last June when the Azzurri edged a tight contest, but both sides were knocked out of the competition at the group stage.
The Villa midfielder says England have a game plan for Italy
Delph, who watched the World Cup at home with his family, is looking forward to facing one of Europe’s top teams. And he is confident he and his team-mates can continue their record-breaking start to the season.
“We are playing against elite players. We will have a game plan and try and come out with a win,” said the former Leeds United schemer.
“We’ve won five out of five [in qualifying] this season so I don’t see why we cannot keep that run going.
“We set ourselves high standards and we will be looking continue it into the Euros.”
