Opportunity knocks with Vardy out of the England picture

By Jimmy Whitehead

This week it was announced that Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has retired from international football. The striker, who has 26 international caps and seven goals for England, had a late start to his football career, playing non-league until 2012. He made his England debut in 2015 and has featured in every squad since.

Due to the emergence of Harry Kane there wasn’t much opportunity for Vardy. While he is a constant goal threat for his club, his game time was limited during the World Cup. The Leicester forward managed only one start and two substitute appearances in Russia. Now the 31-year-old believes the time is right to end his brief international career. His absence opens up an opportunity for other English attackers for manager Gareth Southgate to look at.

Marcus Rashford (25 caps, 3 goals)

The most likely of the replacements Marcus Rashford can play in the same positions as Vardy. He has pace and can play on the wing or through the middle. Since the 20-year-old made his debut for Manchester United in 2016 his career has sky rocketed to the heights of England selection. While his goal return for his country doesn’t make for great reading, the best is yet to come from the Man United product.

Rashford has featured in two of the three Premier League games so far this campaign and last term registered 35 appearances for The Red Devils, netting seven times. While he is being deployed predominantly on the wing for both club and country, the retirement of Vardy gives the young striker more chance of partnering Kane up top, be it from the start or the bench.

Danny Welbeck (40 caps, 16 goals)

One of the most experienced players on this list, Danny Welbeck’s 40 appearances for the Three Lions gives him pedigree. Especially as he has more tournament experience under his belt than some other players fighting for a place. At the age of 27, the wealth of England experience of the forward is invaluable. This gives Welbeck a big advantage in consideration for the England squad. With Southgate bringing the Arsenal player to the recent world cup, it seems there’s a window open for him.

This may mean for the forward to move away from Arsenal for playing time. Welbeck is third choice at The Gunners presently after the club spent big money on Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. While still early into the Premier League season the former Man United forward has featured for just 15 minutes at club level, although he has found the net in his very limited time in action.

Tammy Abraham (2 caps, 0 goals)

After a couple of seasons on loan away from his parent club, Tammy Abraham is looking to break into the main squad. With Chelsea under new management and uncertainty surrounding the forward position this could be his best chance to impress.

The 20-year-old had extended experience of the Premier when he featured 31 times for Swansea City last campaign, scoring five league goals in the process. Although that would not be enough to keep the Welsh outfit in the top tier.

If Abraham plans on adding to his two international appearances then the best course of action would be to build on his appearances from last season, but also to add goals to those appearances, wherever they may be.

Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)

Like Jamie Vardy, Callum Wilson has got to the top tier the hard way. After being loaned out by Coventry City year after year to non-league teams, Wilson joined Bournemouth in 2014. He hasn’t looked back since. Being part of the Cherries since their promotion-winning season in 2015, the striker has scored 45 goals in 118 appearances.

Wilson found the net twice in Bournemouth’s opening two Premier League fixtures and while he did not make the cut for Southgate’s first England squad of the new season, if his current form continues he’ll be tough to leave out of future teams.

The 26-year-old is yet to have a senior appearance for the national team, and only has a single appearance to his name at Under-21 level. Perhaps his sparse scoring exploits have played a part in that, with his best top flight goal tally being the eight goals he registered last season. He is well on his way to finishing the 2018-19 term with his best top tier goal tally yet.

Danny Ings (1 cap, 0 goals)

After a few seasons in the abyss Danny Ings is getting his career back on track. Plagued by injuries since his move from Burnley to Liverpool in 2015 and out of favour with previous manager Jurgen Klopp, Ings moved to Southampton to revive a once promising career.

 

14 appearances and three goals was the mark Ings left on Liverpool, while it’s not the end the former Burnley man invisioned to his time on Merseyside it is important to remember the form that got him there in the first place. 11 goals and a host of impressive outings for The Clarets had top clubs jostling for his signature.

 

Ings’ single international appearance was for Roy Hodgson in 2015 during a Euro 2016 qualifier. He replaced Harry Kane during a 3-0 victory over Lithuania.

A versatile player who can play on the wing or through the middle like Vardy has for the Three Lions, Ings shows promise that he can get back to the England squad like once before. Having played under current England manager Gareth Southgate when he oversaw the Under-21’s, there’s already a connection between the two. A positive season for the Southampton striker could give the manager something to think about.

Theo Walcott (47 caps, 8 goals)

After the shock inclusion of Theo Walcott back in the 2006 World Cup, the Everton player has been in and around the England set-up for over a decade. The debate of which position Walcott is most effective in rages on, he has proven to be capable both through the middle and on the wing.

With 47 caps and appearances at major tournaments, the Toffees forward has bags of experience and won’t turn 30 until March. Injuries and lack of playing time at previous club Arsenal saw his international career suffer, he hasn’t featured in the England set up since 2016. Now with a new lease of life at his new team he could soon push for a place in the squad and be wearing the national team colours again.

His scoring record at international level is a question mark. Just one of his goals has come in tournament football when he found the net during England’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Sweden in Euro 2012. The former Southampton graduate has not found the net for his country since October 2015, a more consistent return for Southgate is a must for such a seasoned veteran.