Tottenham midfielders Jermaine Jenas and Tom Huddlestone were both included in England squad to face Brazil, along with our more established internationals Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon.
At a time when people are questioning as to whether either Jenas or Huddlestone have got what it takes to take Tottenham to the next level, how will they fare at international level?
Jenas has been knocking around the England squads for years, but with Lampard and Gerrard around, there hasn’t been many chances to establish himself in the team. Unless his form at club level this season reaches unprecedented heights before the end of the season, then there doesn’t seem much chance of Jenas forcing his way into the World Cup squad. Don’t hold your breath.
Huddlestone may have an outside chance though. Capello likes to play with two quite deep lying midfielders, which would suit Huddlestone, as would the slower pace of international football.
I’ve always thought that the only way that Huddlestone would ever become a top player at club level is if he were employed within a central midfield three, but international football is sufficiently slower and he should be able to cope with playing in Capello’s side.
Hopefully the big man will get a chance to show what he can do. Huddlestone seems like a player who needs confidence to flourish and becoming a full international may make him realise just how good he can be. This could be a rare example of a player having to prove that he can replicate his international form at club level.
