Fabio Capello announced the inclusion of four uncapped players last night in his 'experimental' squad ahead of Wednesday's friendly match against France.
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson, Cardiff City forward Jay Bothroyd and Newcastle front man Andy Carroll (pictured) are the lucky chosen ones.
And while it is difficult to question the selection of the last three players in particular when taking their form this season into account, it is revealing that the Italian manager has had to cast his net out far and pick players that have so little experience of top-flight football.
With first-choice England forwards Darren Bent, Jermaine Defoe and Wayne Rooney sidelined through injury, the match will be an excellent opportunity for Bothroyd and Carroll in particular to showcase talents and perhaps score a winning goal.
While their stories are different - Carroll has quickly risen through the ranks at Newcastle while Bothroyd has travelled around the leagues and ventured into Italy before settling in Wales - both men are top scorers in the Premier League and Championship respectively.
While Carroll is a player more in the mould of his famed predecessor, Alan Shearer, who relied on power pure finishing abilities, Bothroyd has a good left foot and is more skilful with the ball.
Carroll's inclusion may spell trouble for another new recruit, Bolton's veteran striker Kevin Davies, who possesses a similar style of player but is nearing retirement and has an inferior goalscoring record.
While neither Bothroyd nor Carroll is likely to convince Capello immediately to ditch Bent, Rooney or Defoe, Bothroyd will be eager to demonstrate that he can score goals on an international stage while Carroll will just be pleased that he is receiving attention for his impressive footballing displays and not for his notorious off-field mischief.
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