After finding the net on a regular basis throughout the last few months, Harry Kane was drafted into the England squad for the first time earlier this week when Roy Hodgson named the players in contention to face Lithuania and Italy.
The decision to bring the Tottenham Hotspur striker into the squad was hardly a difficult one following his fine form, but there is certainly a number of other players pushing for a Three Lions debut in the foreseeable future.
Below, Sports Mole singles out three players who could be called up to the senior squad in 2015.
1. Charlie Austin
Kane's inclusion in the England squad may have been inevitable, but there's another English striker who can certainly consider himself unlucky not to be heading to St George's Park to meet up with the country's best players. Charlie Austin has taken to the Premier League very impressively. Despite being prolific in the second tier, there were a large number of people who doubted his ability to deliver the goods at the very highest level. However, his response to the doubters has been emphatic this season. QPR are locked in a relegation scrap, and they have been since the opening day, but Austin has managed to thrive under pressure.
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Kane is the only English player to have scored more goals than the 25-year-old in the Premier League this season, and his 15-goal tally should be respected considering he has found the net regularly for a side that is often on the back foot for the majority matches. The former Burnley ace has been clinical and his all-round game appears to be improving with each passing week. There will surely be critics who doubt his ability to step up to the international level, but, if he continues to impress in the Premier League, Hodgson will have no other choice but to hand him an opportunity. Games against Republic of Ireland and Slovenia are scheduled for June, and, even if QPR fail in their bid to avoid relegation, Austin could be pulling on an England shirt at the start of the summer.
2. James Ward-Prowse
The form of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool means that Southampton's bid for Champions League football could end in disappointment, but there is no doubt that the performance of Ronald Koeman's side has been one of the best stories of the season. Tipped to struggle by so many people outside of the club, the Saints have responded in superb fashion, and the club's business in the transfer marker has been a key factor in a successful campaign.
However, one of their finest players joined the club as an eight-year-old, and the development of James Ward-Prowse as a Premier League footballer should be exciting every England supporter. The midfielder has already made 67 top-flight appearances for the Saints, and, despite often being forced to battle for his spot in the side under Koeman due to competition and a couple of injuries, the 20-year-old continues to deliver fine performances on a regular basis.
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A promising youngster under Nigel Adkins, Ward-Prowse matured quickly with Mauricio Pochettino in charge last season, and he has shown different sides to his game in this campaign. He has operated just behind the striker, been shifted out wide during games and played the playmaker role from a deeper position. His set pieces are outstanding and he is arguably one of the most technically-gifted English youngsters in the game right now. He could thrive in the current diamond formation being used by England. Gareth Southgate will be putting a lot of responsibility on him when the European Under-21 Championships start in the summer. If Ward-Prowse thrives in that tournament, a phone call from Hodgson may not be too far away.
3. Jordon Ibe
Perhaps this inclusion comes out of left field, but there is certainly a lot to like about Jordon Ibe. Apart from Liverpool and Derby County supporters, there would not have been too many England fans paying attention to the form of Ibe when he was on loan at the Championship club. However, Brendan Rodgers decided to bring him back to Anfield, and the youngster was quickly thrust into the spotlight.
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In Liverpool's 3-5-2 system, a number of players are usually asked to learn new positions and sometimes asked to undertake tasks which they are not used to performing. Ibe was one of these players. The 19-year-old built his reputation as an exciting winger with the ability to take on defenders and get into the box, but he showed maturity beyond his years when he slotted in at wing-back for Rodgers. A goalless draw in the Merseyside derby last month should be remembered as the day that Ibe proved he has what it takes to play in the Premier League. He showed impressive fight defensively to ensure that his side were not exposed at the back, but a fine attacking display thrilled Rodgers and raised the youngster's profile. There were reports that Hodgson was considering fast-tracking Ibe until a knee injury forced him to rethink his plans.
Ibe is a player who may benefit from spending time with Southgate's side first, and he could be handed a key role in this summer's tournament. However, Rodgers will always put trust in his younger players and, if Ibe's development continues heading into next season, a senior call-up is certainly a possibility in the near future.
Callum Mulvihill
