The Premier League took a holiday this weekend but that doesn’t stop the league’s finest taking to the field in an international capacity as the countdown to the World Cup begins.
For all the bad press that the international break can accrue, seeing England in friendlies throughout the season is one of the best ways for Roy Hodgson to judge who belongs on his plane next summer.
Friday night against Chile was no different, where Hodgson chose to field arguably his most unfamiliar 11 to date and even in defeat, the former West Brom manager will have learnt much.
Plenty of the attention was naturally on debutant trio Fraser Forster, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana, but that doesn’t mean that one critical eye can’t also be cast over the Manchester starters.
Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones were joined at kick-off by City midfielder James Milner, with the latter two still fighting for the Rio de Janeiro nod.
No such problem for Rooney, who, injury-permitting, is one of a very select group of players that you can bet your grandmother has a guaranteed seat.
Of that group Rooney is the only player from either of Manchester’s two biggest clubs.
Not to say that he will be the only player from those teams to travel – just that he’s the only one who can buy his suntan lotion now.
The other two starters against Chile will likely travel, but with Jones looking unconvincing on Friday night and still searching for his best position, Hodgson may decide that the World Cup is simply too grand a stage for the former Blackburn defender (or is it midfielder?).
Workhorse Milner is the constant subject of debate – what is the Milner role that we keep hearing about that no-one else could do?
Whatever it is, Milner has managed to convince Hodgson and his predecessor Fabio Capello to entrust him with 44 appearances for the senior team.
He will be looking to add to that number this summer, but he also is not a sure selection.
United men Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley made substitute appearances against Chile, though neither overly memorable.
A lack of defensive depth may force Hodgson’s hand into presenting a plane ticket to Smalling, but Cleverley faces much stiffer competition for places, and as such has eight months to prove his worth.
The unorthodox midfielder has been at Old Trafford since the age of 11, but now 13 years on, it is time for him to step forward and repay the club’s long-term faith in him if he is to hold down a regular England role.
If Cleverley stands at one end of the spectrum, where many feel he earns more England call-ups than he deserves, the opposite end is the home of Michael Carrick.
Carrick was a linchpin of Sir Alex Ferguson’s title-winning side last season, and is now starting to get the credit he has so richly deserved for many years.
Internationally speaking, however, the West Ham academy graduate has long been pushed down the pecking order by the consistent selections of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and Scott Parker.
Carrick should be aboard the plane, but history would suggest that is by no means a sure bet.
For Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck, it is doing them no disservice to say that in the past year, their best form has come in the white of England rather than the United red.
Welbeck has failed to hold down a regular place at club level, while Young’s performances under David Moyes have not screamed ‘international footballer’.
Both will be hoping that their previous exploits for England will be enough to earn them a place, though it could be argued that their left-wing roles are similar enough that Hodgson need only pick one of the two.
Joe Hart is another matter entirely – a fall from grace of Eddie Carbone proportions.
Six months ago, to suggest that Joe Hart might not be in England’s top three goalkeepers would have been a symptom of lunacy, but now Mr Head and Shoulders can’t buy a place between the posts for club or country thanks to a blunder-filled start to the campaign.
Hart should travel – the form he can rediscover, the confidence will return, and Hodgson will keep a keen eye on his domestic progress this season – yet his position is not so set-in-stone as it once was.
Hart is not the only Manchester City player who may miss out due to a lack of game time at club level – Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott and Jack Rodwell cannot show themselves off from the bench.
All three have undoubted talent, but Hodgson cannot justify picking a player for the biggest competition in world football when he plays less than 15 times a season.
With only two international friendlies confirmed for the coming year, starting against Germany tonight and then Denmark in March, the England hopefuls rely on the Premier League as their best stage to put forward their case for selection.
Perhaps it may seem early to be pre-determining the lucky recipients of World Cup call-ups, but it bears noting that there are so many players contesting each week under the spotlight.
All except for golden boy Rooney, of course.
Image courtesy of Tsutomo Takasu via WikiMediaCommons, with thanks.
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