There was much surprise when the England squad was named on Thursday due to the inclusion of Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy.
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While the forward has been influential as the Foxes have beaten relegation, scoring three times since the middle of March, he has rarely been considered international class.
Similarly, the 28-year-old can hardly be seen as an example of a young player being given the taste of life with the national side.
In this feature, we present five players who we believe were more deserving of an England call-up than the former Fleetwood Town forward.
Ashley Young
Ashley Young’s renaissance over the second half of the campaign has been a joy to watch. The winger has gone from being a beleaguered flop seemingly destined for the exit door at Old Trafford to emerging as a key man under Louis van Gaal.
The 29-year-old has been influential as Manchester United secured Champions League football for next season.
He was outstanding in the derby, contributing two assists and scoring once against Manchester City, while two assists in his last two matches demonstrate that he is playing with confidence under the Dutch coach.
Tom Cleverley
Like Young, Tom Cleverley has enjoyed a fine return to form during the latter part of this season.
The midfielder left United on loan for Aston Villa at the beginning of the season, but it is only during the final month or two of the campaign—since Tim Sherwood replaced Paul Lambert—that the former Watford man has begun to demonstrate the form that made him an England international in the first place.
The 25-year-old scored three goals in three games recently, as Villa scored six goals over a trio of contests, but despite injuries to Michael Carrick and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the revived Cleverley still can’t get a look in.
Danny Rose
At the beginning of the season, Danny Rose’s future at Tottenham Hotspur looked uncertain following the arrival of Swansea City left-back Ben Davies.
It is to Rose’s great credit that he has turned things around—earning the faith of Mauricio Pochettino, a new contract at White Hart Lane, and more league starts than his would-be replacement.
His form has attracted interest from Manchester City, no less, according to the Daily Mail.
However, despite being tipped as a replacement for Gael Clichy and/or Aleksandar Kolarov, Rose can’t get into the England squad ahead of Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs.
Carl Jenkinson
West Ham United players have been wholly snubbed by Roy Hodgson for the latest England squad.
Mark Noble must surely have given up hope of an England call, while Stewart Downing’s disappointing showing when given the opportunity earlier this term may have ended his international hopes.
The less said about Andy Carroll, the better.
However, might Carl Jenkinson be disappointed at having been overlooked?
England are not blessed with superb right-backs, and Hodgson only has Nathaniel Clyne in his squad, backed up by the unconvincing full-back duo of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.
With Kyle Walker being injured yet again, the coach must begin considering his broader options at right-back.
Jenkinson has already been capped by England, and, now 23, could he not have been better served joining the seniors rather than taking his place in Gareth Southgate’s U21 squad—a side also featuring Eric Dier, Liam Moore and Calum Chambers?
Kieran Trippier
If Jenkinson could have served the senior side well, then surely Kieran Trippier might have deserved a look-in?
The 24-year-old former Manchester United man has been one of the top-performing English full-backs in the Premier League this season, and while he has been relegated with Burnley, it surely won’t be long before he’s back in the top flight.
According to the Daily Mail, Bournemouth are keen to bring the defender back to the Premier League next season.
Trippier has managed four assists in the EPL this term, and has demonstrated that he belongs in the top flight. Could he make the step up to international football?