Today's England squad saw the name of Luke Shaw added to that of Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana as Saints have an unprecedented four players in the squad.

Luke Shaw is celebrating his first call up to the full England squad, meaning that Saints have four players in the squad, but perhaps an even bigger testament to the club and its youth policy over the past decade or so is that with the addition of former Saints Alex Oxlade Chamberlain there are actually three players in the squad who have come through the youth ranks at Southampton.

Of our four current players though perhaps only Adam Lallana was 100% certain to be in this squad and both Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert would have been keeping their fingers crossed, in the case of Jay Rod the fact he has been performing so well in the Premier has shown that Roy Hodgson has not held his relatively poor debut behind him and is keeping faith, for Lambert its the opposite, his poor form in the League has been balanced out by the fact he has played well in an England shirt.

For Shaw though its a step forward and hopefully one that will show him that he doesn't need to be in one of the big club's colour's to get a chance with England, Roy Hodgson may not be everybody's cup of tea, but one pleasing thing about him is his willingness not just to stick to players who play for the top club's but to judge people on merit, this is a breath of fresh air after a succession of England manager's who have urged their player's to be in the Champion's league etc.

Southampton previously had the Holy Trinity of Lambert, Lallana and Rodriguez, now with the addition of Shaw it's the fantastic four, how long before it's five, certainly Nathaniel Clyne or Jack Cork would like to feel that it soon could be !

Photo: Action Images

Whatsforpud added 16:02 - Feb 27 What greater incentive to pull out all stops between now and when the final 23 for Brazil is announced. They will all be even more under the microscope now. Interesting situation at left back, where Cole is regarded as one of the best in the world, but hasn't been a club regular, against Shaw who has yet to put on a full England shirt. Only one of them will go, along with Baines.

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LesVivian added 17:18 - Feb 27 Wouldn't it be good if Hodgson chucked out the likes of Welbeck , Cleverley and Sterling, selected because they play for 'big' clubs, and looked at players like Cork and Clyne and other players, at other 'small' clubs like Saints, who deserve chances!
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