MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 13:56:55| >> :60:2713:2713:

Three players close to an England call-up

Sports Mole takes a look at three players who deserve to be in the England picture when Roy Hodgson begins mulling over his next squad.

England continued their 100% start to Euro 2016 qualifying by strolling to a predictable 5-0 victory over San Marino at Wembley on Thursday night.

Roy Hodgson elected to keep faith with some familiar faces, while in the case of Kieran Gibbs and Jonjo Shelvey, others were asked to come in out of the international wilderness to join up with the rest of the squad.

Shelvey and Nathaniel Clyne were the biggest surprises when the squad was announced last weekend, and Sports Mole has decided to look at three other players who could be unleashed on the international stage in the near future.


Nathan Dyer

As mentioned, there was some surprise, and some applause, when Shelvey and Clyne were included in the latest squad, but the fact that the former was not joined by one of his Swansea City teammates was slightly baffling. Nathan Dyer has been in tremendous form for Garry Monk's side in the early stages of the new season. Quite simply, Swansea would not be sitting fifth in the Premier League had it not been for the tricky winger.

Swansea player Nathan Dyer celebrates after opening the scoring during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion at Liberty Stadium on August 30, 2014 © Getty Images

Perhaps the only man standing in Dyer's way is Andros Townsend. Tottenham Hotspur's own wide man came off the bench to score in the routine win over San Marino, but he can consider himself lucky to still be in the England squad. Hodgson has elected to give Townsend another chance in the squad after injury wrecked his chances of reaching the World Cup. However, he has been warned that he could soon find himself out of favour if his struggles to hold down a place in the Spurs side continue.

If Townsend does miss out when the next squad is named, England supporters should not worry about his potential replacement. Dyer has matured into an excellent footballer over the past couple of seasons, and has added a clinical edge to his game recently. The 26-year-old should be given the chance to prove his quality on the international stage.


Saido Berahino

It was suggested that Saido Berahino may have been included in this squad before it was named, but his importance to the England Under-21s, who have a crucial playoff against Croatia on Friday, means that a call-up for the West Bromwich Albion forward should always have been considered unlikely. However, it will come as no surprise if Hodgson turns to Berahino at some stage over the next year.

Saido Berahino of West Brom celebrates scoring his second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland at The Hawthorns on August 16, 2014© Getty Images

The 21-year-old burst onto the scene last season, before struggling to reach the same heights in the second half of the season as he drifted in and out of the West Brom side. It's been a different story in this campaign, and the signs are very promising. Berahino appears to have found the consistency required to catch the eye of the England manager, and he has already hit the back of the net six times in all competitions. There is no doubt that he will play an important role for the Young Lions if they reach the European Championships next summer, but a phone call from Hodgson may not be far away.


Tom Huddlestone

Some sceptics may consider this final choice a bit of a long shot, but the more Huddlestone being included in an England squad is discussed, the more it seems to make sense. When the midfielder was a youngster, it looked certain that he would be a regular at international level, but a series of injuries hampered his form towards the end of his Tottenham Hotspur career. However, since moving to Hull City, he has started knocking on the door again.

Hull's Tom Huddlestone celebrates after scoring his team's third goal against Sheffield United during the FA Cup semi final match on April 13, 2014© Getty Images

Everybody should all know by now what Huddlestone could bring to the England side. Many supporters must be are tired of hearing pundits criticise the team's lack of quality in the passing department, and one possible solution to that long-standing problem is once again impressing for Hull. If Hodgson wants to persist with the diamond formation that he has favoured recently, selecting the 27-year-old could be a big positive. Questions remain over Jack Wilshere's ability to play as the deepest midfielder, but Huddlestone should have no problem dictating the tempo of the game from that position. His range of passing would add another dimension to England's play, and would be welcomed by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge.

In truth, there is little risk involved in this selection. Huddlestone has shown over the years that he can mix it with the best midfielders in the Premier League, and he deserves the opportunity to add to his four caps.


ID:181662: cacheID:181662:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9019:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Danny Welbeck of England celebrates scoring their third goal as goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini of San Marino looks dejected during the EURO 2016 Group E Qualifying match on October 9, 2014
Read Next:
Match Analysis: England 5-0 San Marino
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!