In a succinct self-evaluation, he confesses:
"The squad is announced next Tuesday but I don't think my chances are too good now after being in the U21s.
"We'll just see what happens, but if I am in the U21s this summer it is still definitely a big honour as you are still representing England."
Michael's progress this season was interrupted by a necessary groin operation which ruled him out for six weeks.
As for the domestic scene, Michael, looking back on another return to his native north east and a 3-1 defeat by Newcastle, says:
"In the first half we had loads of chances but didn't convert them, but they showed what a good team they are in the second half and stuck it in our faces.
"At half time we said we had had seven chances and you expect to score at least three if you have that many.
"We let ourselves down; everyone wants to score goals but at this level you have got to put them away.
"You had to expect them to get at us in the second half but we didn't deal with it well enough; it was a bad game all round and one to forget."
He insists that there is still a lot of work to do on the away form, as an end of season statistic showing three away wins and 12 defeats - only Sunderland and Derby have more - would appear to confirm.
"We have got to keep improving; we've been like that too many times this season and it is something to work on," he says.
"If you look at Arsenal away and Newcastle away, to be fair they are tough games at the best of times, and even when you are on form it is tough.
"But now we have a short break and we are just looking to finish on a high in 12 days' time."