Tuesday 13 October 2015 11:27, UK
England may have qualified for France 2016 with flying colours but that doesn't mean Roy Hodgson's tournament squad is settled.
While key men such as Wayne Rooney, Gary Cahill and Joe Hart seem assured of their place at next summer's European Championship - fitness permitting - there could be some surprise inclusions, too.
Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Luke Shaw were among five players who represented England at the 2014 World Cup without registering a minute of game time during the qualifiers.
This time around, Daniel Sturridge will more than likely feature at the France showpiece despite missing all of the Group E fixtures. The Liverpool striker has been hampered by injury during the qualifying campaign but remains an important player for Hodgson.
However, just like Sterling and Shaw, there may also be players who impress over the coming months and force their way into Hodgson's plans.
Here, we take a look at 10 players who - despite not contributing to England's qualification - could be on the plane next summer...
Saido Berahino - 0 caps
Berahino is a player Hodgson knows well from his time at West Brom and last November the striker - who scored 10 in 11 for England's U21s - was called up to the senior squad. Berahino didn't feature in the qualifier with Slovenia or subsequent friendly with Scotland on that occasion but went on to score 14 goals for West Brom in the Premier League in 2014/15. He'll need to replicate that output to force his way into Hodgson's plans next summer, with a host of names vying for a forward role.
Charlie Austin - 0 caps
After scoring 18 goals for relegated QPR in the Premier League last season, Austin was called up for England's friendly with Republic of Ireland and qualifier with Slovenia. The striker didn't get on the field in either game and the 26-year-old's wait for an England cap goes on after he was overlooked for the latest squad, despite scoring seven in nine for QPR in the Championship. Austin may have to produce an incredible goal-haul in the second tier or switch to a Premier League side in January to clinch a Euro 2016 place.
Ryan Mason - 1 cap
Mason established himself as a key member of the Tottenham midfield last season, playing in 29 of their final 33 Premier League games and the Capital One Cup final defeat to Chelsea. The 24-year-old kicked off this campaign in typically industrious fashion, featuring in all of Spurs' first five games until he injured his knee scoring the winner against Sunderland on September 13. The Tottenham youth product is due to return to action shortly and will be eager to get back to the consistent levels he showed last term - and offer Hodgson another option in the centre of the park.
Eric Dier - 0 caps
The fact Dier's omission from Hodgson's squad for England's final qualifiers this month came as a surprise is testament to how quickly the Spurs player has progressed this season. Shifted from his more familiar defensive role into central midfield, the 21-year-old has proved an effective shield in front of the Spurs back four - and has even chipped in with a couple of goals. With Jack Wilshere injured once again and Michael Carrick nearly 35 by next summer's finals, Dier could force himself into contention for the holding midfield role.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 0 caps
The prodigiously talented 19-year-old Loftus-Cheek wowed viewers with his mature, no-nonsense performances in the centre of Chelsea's midfield in high profile clashes with Manchester City and Liverpool last season. A pre-season dressing down from Jose Mourinho also drew headlines but, following the Blues' abject start to the season, Loftus-Cheek's chance may come again and assured performances in a central role for Chelsea will surely encourage Hodgson to take a closer look at the England U21 international.
Tom Cleverley - 13 caps
Cleverley has 13 England caps to his name but hasn't represented his country since a 1-0 defeat to Germany in November 2013. A mixed season on loan at Aston Villa in 2014/15 saw him drop out of the international frame but now, having left Manchester United for Everton on a permanent deal, the 26-year-old will be aiming to remind Hodgson of what he can do. An ankle injury stalled his start to the season but, with a return to action expected in the coming weeks, Cleverley could push for a play-making role in France next summer.
Brendan Galloway - 0 caps
Everton youngster Galloway seized his chance at left-back this season, after Leighton Baines suffered an ankle injury. The 19-year-old has played in all but one of Everton's opening Premier League fixtures and has looked an assured presence in Roberto Martinez's backline. The England U19 international has already felt the heat of a Merseyside derby and, given the uncertainty around how long Luke Shaw will be sidelined with a broken leg, the Zimbabwe-born defender could stake a claim for a Three Lions call-up if he maintains his place and form with Everton.
Joe Gomez - 0 caps
Signed from Charlton in the summer as a prospect at centre-half, Gomez was a shock early-season hit at left-back for Liverpool this season, particularly impressing in a goalless draw at Arsenal. A switch in formation to three centre-backs may have seen him drop out of Brendan Rodgers' plans but with new boss Jurgen Klopp promising to give Liverpool's youth a chance, it seems there are more opportunities ahead for the 18-year-old. He has experience of tournament success with England, too - he played every minute of England's U17 European Championship win in 2014.
Jordon Ibe - 0 caps
After being pursued by Nigeria, Ibe committed his international future to England in September and could provide and exciting, unpredictable presence on the wing for the Three Lions next summer. An impressive loan spell at Derby in the first half of last season earned him game-time for Liverpool later in the campaign and, like Gomez, the 19-year-old could profit this term from Klopp's policy of giving youth a chance. Few midfielders in the current England squad can match his pace and power.
Nathan Redmond - 0 caps
After garnering heaps of experience with England's U21s (24 caps and counting), Redmond's blistering start to the 2015/16 Premier League season with Norwich hints he is ready for the next step in his career. The 21-year-old winger has added end product this term, with three goals and an assist in eight games, and was named in the U21 European Championship team of the tournament in the summer, despite England's poor showing.
