There were huge groans going round the Transfer Tavern when the final whistle went at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, as regulars at the bar realised it would be a whole long two weeks until the Premier League returned to action, due to the international break.
However, while the international break is usually met with a mixture of annoyance that their is no league action, and also fear that coveted clubmen might get hurt, this round of international fixtures could actually be pretty tasty.
Not only are there exciting play offs for the European qualifiers to get your teeth stuck into, but England also will be facing two highly quality opponents in the form of Spain and France. This makes a change from the usually monotonous football we are treated to, when England play fairly low opposition such as San Marino.
The appearance of the international break got a discussion going in the Transfer Tavern, with the topic being which England players deserved a start against the current European champions.
Below are five names who we think have performed so well so far this season, that they therefore deserve to go toe-to-toe with some of Europe’s finest.
Hit Hodgson below to see FIVE players who deserve a start against Spain!
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Dele Alli
Having made his England bow as a sub in the last set of international fixtures, fans in the Tavern think it is high time that Alli got his first start in an England shirt. After his man of the match display against Arsenal on Sunday, Alli has shown signs that he is a man for the occasion.
With an extremely mature head on his shoulders, and with tons of ability, why not give him a start? Out of all of the central midfielders picked in Hodgson’s squad, Alli has arguably been the most in form, and for that reason should get his chance in Alicante on Friday.
Eric Dier
Hodgson will want to pick the best team on Friday, and team really is the key word here. In order to help Alli in this challenging game, Hodgson should pick his equally excellent central midfield partner for Tottenham Hotspur, Eric Dier.
Dier is celebrating his first England call-up, after making a smooth transition from centre back to central midfield this season. He, like Alli, had a great game against Arsenal on Sunday.
Hodgson should play to his strengths, and pick a partnership which has shown how capable they are so far this season.
Jamie Vardy (up front!)
Jamie Vardy has been electric this season, and will surely start on Friday. However, Hodgson must make sure that the Leicester City striker is playing in his best position down the middle, not on the wing.
It would be interesting to see captain Wayne Rooney playing just in behind Vardy, rather than Vardy being forced out wide. It didn’t really work with Danny Welbeck or Daniel Sturridge, so lets make sure we don’t make the same mistake with Vardy.
Jack Butland
Though Joe Hart has been in fine form for Manchester City this season, Jack Butland has been completely imperious in recent weeks. The Stoke City goalkeeper put in a man of the match display against Newcastle, while he also was vital in helping his side secure a 1-0 win against Chelsea.
Having strong competition in the side is important, and Butland deserves his chance to go against some of the world’s best. If he doesn’t start on Friday he at the very least deserves to start one of the games, or else what is the point in taking him?
Ryan Bertrand
Since Bertrand returned to the Southampton side after injury, the Saints have looked so much like their old selves again. Bertrand most recently won a penalty to help his side 1-0 win against Sunderland, and he looks to be continuing the fine form he had last season. Chelsea must be kicking themselves for letting the left back go.
With Luke Shaw out with a long term injury, this is Bertrand’s chance to make the left back position his own. While Kieran Gibbs scored for Arsenal on Sunday, Bertrand has quite simply been far better this season.
