Whilst Harry Kane might be the story of the international break, as he has been for most of the season, the period away from domestic football has also seen a number of youngsters not normally given the time to shine in their leave clubs the opportunity to star on some of the biggest stages in football.
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We take a look at some of the standout performers of the U21 sides and discover just who might be next to get a full-cap but most importantly, who deserves one.
Hector Bellerin – Arsenal
The Spaniard has been nothing short of a revelation for Arsenal this season after being drafted into the first team as an almost last ditch, emergency replacement.
After a tough first match, Bellerin has progressed with every passing match leading many to wonder if Mathieu Debuchy even deserves to be first-choice or should automatically return to the first team once he returns to fitness.
James Ward-Prowse – Southampton
Has been a regular for Southampton this term under Koeman but not yet been afforded an opportunity by Roy Hodgson as full international.
He showed a cool head, despite his inexperience, just eight minutes from time, slotting past ter Stegen to send England into raptures against Germany.
Anthony Martial – AS Monaco
He’s played at all levels on the international spectrum except the senior squad, his startling performances this season for Monaco, which has seen him strike eight goals and three assist, will surely see that feat end in the coming months.
Carl Jenkinson – West Ham (on loan from Arsenal)
Fair play to Jenkinson who hasn’t dwelled on the disappointment of being outcast from the club he supported as a boy, Arsenal, in the summer and gone from strength to strength with the Hammers.
He set up the winner for Ward-Prowse and would surely be in Roy Hodgson’s squad more permanently if there wasn’t such fierce competition on the right side of the defence.
Gerard Deulofeu – Barcelona
Still yet to make the breakthrough at Barcelona with his loan move to Everton in the last campaign mirrored with a move to Sevilla this.
But it was almost the Deulofeu show against Belarus in the international break and it’s surely just a matter of time before he’s nailing down a starting role in Catalonia and for the national side.
Adrien Rabiot – Paris Saint Germain
Whilst he might not have played as much as he would have liked for PSG, it does seem Rabiot is becoming more of a feature in Paris which may go some way to explaining why he’s recently rejected moves to Arsenal and Tottenham according to Metro.
He has since signed a new contract at the Prac des Princes and it looks as if the Les Bleus senior squad is the natural next step.
Nathan Redmond – Norwich City
Amongst the goals at the Riverside which helped England overcome Germany, Redmond has remained loyal to Norwich over the past season following their relegation.
He’s been linked with moves to bigger clubs, such as Liverpool, in the past but on this evidence his progression is on the right track but would be significantly boosted if Norwich could secure their passage back to the Premier League this season.
Emre Can – Liverpool
Brilliant for the Reds since his shift to the rear of their defence, it’s easy to see why Bayern Munich were so eager to acquire his services, according to the Mirror, but Liverpool will be sitting quite smugly knowing they got the Turk-born German for a pittance.
Serge Gnabry – Arsenal
The Arsenal man has had a torrid year that’s seen him on the sidelines through successive knee problems but finally seems to be back to full fitness.
Before his first injury troubles he was beginning to break into the Arsenal first XI and if can continue this progression now he has returned, we could see him lining up for Germany in the near future.