Just when things in the Premier League are just starting to get interesting, the nascent season is about to be cruelly interrupted for international play following this weekend's slate of matches. Over the next two weeks England face a qualifier with Switzerland and a friendly against Norway, while junior England sides will also be in action playing matches of varying relevance.
Roy Hodgson has named four debutantss in his latest senior squad, including our very own Danny Rose. After a rocky season last year and the acquisition of Swansea's Ben Davies, many expected the winger-turned-fullback to be shipped out, or at the very least lose his starting spot. Instead, Rose has fought off the threat to his starting position and started the season in excellent form. After two assured defensive performances and an assist on Sunday, Rose deserves his chance to show what he can do in the absence of Luke Shaw and the now-retired Ashley Cole.
In more surprising news, Andros Townsend has also been recalled to Hodgson's side. Townsend got off to a bright start to his England career with massive performances in key World Cup qualifiers, but his club form deteriorated and injury robbed him of a chance to earn a spot in Hodgson's World Cup squad. Townsend is back fully fit, but he has yet to really shine at Spurs under Pochettino. Hopefully Andros can kickstart his career and rediscover some of the magic that made him so deadly a year ago.
But that's not all. Spurs also have four players in Gareth Southgate's U-21 squad for their last two Euro qualifiers. Eric Dier and Harry Kane have both started their time under Poche brilliantly, and while they were both snubbed for the senior side so Hodgson could take lesser talents like Callum Chambers and Wayne Rooney, they should both feature prominently in the U-21 side. Joining these two are on-loan starlets Tom Carroll, who impressed on his Swansea debut in the League Cup this week, and Alex Pritchard who's by all accounts been excellent at Brentford in the Championship.
Meanwhile, young defender Dominic Ball has earned a spot in England's U-20 side and midfield whiz Harry Winks will feature with the U-19 team.
Congratulations to all the lads. Please return home safely and injury free.
Full England Squad:
Goalkeepers: Forster (Southampton), Foster (West Brom), Hart (Manchester City)
Defenders: Baines (Everton), Cahill (Chelsea), Chambers (Arsenal), Jagielka (Everton), Jones (Manchester United), Rose (Tottenham), Stones (Everton)
Midfielders: Colback (Newcastle), Delph (Aston Villa), Henderson (Liverpool), Milner (Manchester City), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Sterling (Liverpool), Townsend (Tottenham), Wilshere (Arsenal)
Strikers: Lambert (Liverpool), Rooney (Manchester United), Sturridge (Liverpool), Welbeck (Manchester United).