The best XI currently playing the Premier League, who are yet to win a full international cap.
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GK: David De Gea (Manchester United)
With 152-cap Spain captain Iker Casillas, Barcelona’s Victor Valdes, Pepe Reina of Liverpool and Real Madrid number one Diego Lopez all competing for places, it’s understandable that 23-year-old De Gea is yet to win his first full cap for the World Champions. That could change before this summer’s World Cup, with the United stopper set to be part of Vicente Del Bosque’s squad. When Casillas eventually retires, De Gea is the natural heir to the Spanish gloves.
RB: Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
The 22-year-old is facing stiff competition for a spot in the Southampton first team from teenager Calum Chambers, with both players yet to win a cap for England. Clyne, who has notched up an impressive four assists in just 17 appearances, just has the edge over the youngster but with Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Kyle Walker all around his age, the former Crystal Palace starlet’s chances of winning an England cap in the near future look slim.
LB: Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Like Clyne, Shaw has impressed since breaking into the Saints’ first team but the left back is almost certain to represent England sooner rather than later. The 19-year-old has been drawing admiring glances from Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and White Hart Lane and with Ashley Cole, 33, and Leighton Baines, 29, in the twilight of their careers, Shaw is set to become England’s first choice left back in the next couple of seasons. Given Cole’s lack of football at Chelsea, Shaw could even make England’s World Cup squad for next summer’s tournament in Brazil.
CB: Sylvain Distin (Everton)
The veteran Frenchman boasts over 400 Premier League appearances and his solid partnership with Phil Jagielka has been a crucial part of Everton’s success this season. But Distin has never been considered for a place in the France squad and, at 36, he is set to finish his career without an international cap.
CB: Chico Flores (Swansea)
The Spaniard has been a rock at the back for Swansea since arriving from Genoa in 2012. The former Barcelona B starlet does boast caps for Spain’s under-21 side but is a long way off the quality of Sergio Ramos, Pique and co. and is that is unlikely to change any time soon.
DM: Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
Unfortunately for Arsenal’s vice-captain, he plays the same position as some of the greatest Spanish players in history. With the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso on the scene, Arteta has never got in a look in at international level, despite being of the Premier League’s most consistent and effective performers. There was briefly talk that the 31-year-old, who has been in the country since 2005, could switch allegiance to England but Arteta looks set to finish his career without an international cap.
DM: Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
Frenchman Schneiderlin has been one of the most quietly effective players in the Premier League over the past two seasons but perhaps too quiet because his form is yet to be recognised by Les Bleus. At 24, and with links to Arsenal refusing to go away, there is plenty of time for that to change but France are well-stocked at in central midfield with the likes of Yann M’Vila, Paul Pogba, Etienne Capoue, Yohan Cabaye, Maxime Gonalons and a few others all scrambling for places.
AMR: Serge Gnabry (Arsenal)
So impressive has Gnabry been since breaking into Arsenal’s first team, Germany boss Joachim Loew has refused to rule out taking the 18-year-old to the World Cup. Give Germany’s strength in midfield, that seems unlikely but it looks certain the powerful attacker will not have to wait much longer to win his first full cap.
AML: Yoan Gouffran (Newcastle United)
The Newcastle winger is enjoying a decent season in tricky circumstances at St James’ Park but unlike many of his Toon teammates, the Frenchman is yet to win a full cap for Les Blues. With one of the world’s best players, Franck Ribery, playing in his position, it’s hardly surprising the 22-cap under-21 starlet is yet to called-up for the seniors.
AMC: Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United)
There is little doubt Manchester United teenager Januzaj is good enough to play international football and the only question is for who. At last count, the 18-year-old is eligible to play for Albania, Kosovo, Belgium, Turkey and Croatia, and he could even represent England if he stays in the country long enough.
ST: Gary Hooper (Norwich)
Former Tottenham trainee Hooper had to drop down to non-league football after being released by Spurs but the 26-year-old is now back in the Premier League and doing a decent job with Norwich. England aren’t blessed with quality strikers and with Jermain Defoe heading for semi-retirement in MLS and Andy Carroll permanently crocked, it wouldn’t be the strangest thing to have ever happened if Hooper was to earn a call-up to Roy Hodgson’s squad soon.
Bench: Danny Rose (Tottenham), Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Jose Enrique (Liverpool), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Saido Berahino (West Brom), Wayne Routledge (Swansea).