What would an England side featuring players solely from abroad look like? Including ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea stars.
After Roy Hodgson and Ashley Cole both expressed their belief that more English players moving abroad would help the national side, what would an all-overseas team look like?
Looking outside the British Isles, we tried to put together a lineup, with the results as follows.
GK – Luke Steele (Panathinaikos)
The former Manchester United youngster signed for the Greek club on Thursday, after spending six-and-a-half seasons as Barnsley’s first-choice keeper in the Championship.
RB –Tom Hateley (Slask Wroclaw)
The versatile 24-year-old followed in his father’s footsteps, ex-England and AC Milan striker Mark Hateley, by opting to move overseas in January, joining the 2011-12 Polish champions, after first establishing himself with Scotland’s Motherwell from 2009 to 2013.
CB – Anton Ferdinand (Police United)
Having played last season in Turkey with Antalyspor, the West Ham United product joined fellow Englishman Jay Bothroyd in the Thai Premier League this summer, signing a two-year deal with Police United.
CB – Liam Ridgewell (Portland Timbers)
After being released by West Bromwich Albion earlier this summer, the centre-back-cum-left-back signed as a Designated Player for the Timbers last month and is set to make his MLS debut this weekend.
LB – Ashley Cole (Roma)
Possibly cheating somewhat, after his international retirement, but Cole doesn’t have Leighton Baines or Luke Shaw pushing him out in this instance.
If we were to exclude him, then the San Jose Earthquakes’ Jordan Stewart or Servette FC’s Korede Aiyegbusi would be the alternatives.
DM – Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon)
The 20-year-old moved to Portugal with his mother aged 10, signing professional terms with Sporting in 2010 after progressing through the club’s academy, and can play at centre-back, right-back or in a holding role.
However, having made 26 first-team appearances over the past two seasons, the under-21 international has been linked with a return to England in recent weeks, after rejecting the offer of an extension on his current deal.
CM – Nigel Reo-Coker (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Once considered a potential England international, the former under-21 captain made more than 200 Premier League appearances between spells at West Ham, Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers, before a short Championship stint with Ipswich Town at the end of 2012.
Moving on to MLS in February 2013, the 30-year-old has been linked with a return to England in recent months, after losing his place in the lineup, but has since claimed his spot back.
CM – Wayne Brown (SJK)
Voted Finland’s Newcomer of the Year during a 2009 loan spell at TPS, the former Fulham prospect returned to the Finnish club in December 2012, after two-and-a-half seasons at Bristol Rovers, before a transfer to fellow Veikkausliiga side SJK this summer.
AM – John Bostock (Royal Antwerp)
One of the hottest young properties in English football at the time of his 2008 move from Crystal Palace to Tottenham Hotspur, the 22-year-old made just four substitute appearances during five frustrating seasons at White Hart Lane, with loan spells at five different clubs proving fruitless.
Leaving for good last summer, he’s recently proved a hit in the Belgian second division under ex-Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, though it’s far cry from where he expected his career to be at this point.
ST – Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City)
A former Norwich City trainee, the 23-year-old arrived in the US in 2009 to play at the college level and played a crucial role in Sporting KC’s 2013 postseason run to MLS Cup success.
One of the league’s highest-scorers in 2014, with 14 goals in 19 games, there has been talk of him suiting up for the USA in the future, being eligible for citizenship in 2017.
ST – Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC)
The 31-year-old has proved he’s not lost his scoring touch since leaving Tottenham for MLS earlier this year, scoring 11 goals in 13 games for TFC so far. He still trails fellow Englishman Bradley Wright-Phillips, however, who has a league-leading 16 in 18 appearances.
Conclusion: It is safe to say the England all-overseas side are going to struggle to compete with the national team-proper, unless a sudden wave of talent leaves for foreign shores this summer.
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