Noble, Tavernier, Campbell: Who are England’s best uncapped footballers?

Plenty of fans overlook it, but the immense pride and honour that must come with earning full international honours is incredible.

People are quick to view international breaks and training camps as a hindrance, simply waiting for the return of domestic football and hoping their favourite player doesn’t fall victim to injuries.

The truth is, though, that international football and those breaks are massively helpful to club football, and are relished by most top players.

England and English football fans have long had a strange relationship. At times a spark has been missing; a pure connection between fan and squad. But, like a toxic relationship, everyone is hooked back in when the major tournaments roll around, putting on their finest retro Three Lions gear and belting out Baddiel and Skinner with immense national pride.

Players feel it too. And with only so many spots up for grabs, the competition to make a squad and get on the pitch at any possible opportunity is always high.

It means that over the years, plenty of top class footballers have unfortunately missed out on getting that illusive international cap for England, despite absolutely being good enough at one point in their career. Timing is everything, and for these players, it just hasn’t appeared to be on their side.

Starting out with hometown club Carlisle, Jansen looked a young sensation in the 1990s and turned down an offer to join Manchester United before later heading to Crystal Palace and then Blackburn Rovers, where he started exceptionally well.

His prolific displays for Blackburn resulted in Sven-Goran Eriksson calling him up for a friendly in 2002, but he withdrew due to illness, ultimately costing him a spot at the World Cup. He was in a near-fatal