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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Callum Mulvihill
