With England now confirmed for the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil, could more of the Saints squad be setting their sights on hopefully joining Rickie Lambert on the plane.

Rickie Lambert is probably at the high point of his career, not only has he established himself in the Premier League but he knows that he has the chance to play in a World Cup Finals tournament, to do that though he knows that he not only has to start scoring in the Premier League with the regularity he did last season, but he probably will come up in a straight scrap against Andy Carroll for the spot reserved for the traditional English centre forward berth.

But he wont be the only Saints hoping that their form might get them a call up, Adam Lallana of course was picked for the squad just over a year ago and will be looking to push himself back into the thoughts of Roy Hodgson, likewise Jay Rodriguez could be an outside bet if he can kick on and show his undoubted class for Saints, he has the mobility needed and like Andros Townsend who has burst onto the scene so spectacularly has the ability to beat players, add to that a knack for goals and aerial power and I wouldn't quite write of J Rod just yet.

But perhaps the trio with the best chance of going are not only the full back pairing of Nathan Clyne and Luke Shaw, but Jamie Ward Prowse who staked his claim with a goal for the U21 side.

In the case of Shaw it might be a case of too many in front of him, if Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines are both fit it might be that Hodgson sticks with them, but the opportunity is there, like Shaw, Clyne could sneak a place on the plane as an understudy if someone gets injured, the right back spot isn't so well covered and Chris Smalling was not convincing in the position against the Poles.

That's a healthy position to be in for Saints though to have six players all with something to play for and to prove over the coming months, for all but Lambert it might the tournament might come a little too soon for them with too many players not quite over the hill yet, but if they can get their names in the frame this season then they will be in the driving seat for the places in the squad that will definitely come up for grabs in the qualifying games for Euro 2016

Photo: Action Images

halftimeorange added 19:36 - Oct 16 If Keith Milner can get on the plane any of the Saints you name might make it to Brazil! I, too, fancy Jay Rodrigues to make his case - over Ricky Lambert. No matter how hard Saints try this season I'm afraid that we will remain unfashionable in the eyes of the media and Hodgson will want to keep the press on board so, maybe no Saints players will go. Not unless they've moved onto the "bigger" clubs by the time the squad is announced.

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legod7 added 22:01 - Oct 16 Who the f*ck is Keith Milner
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IanRC added 23:48 - Oct 16 It will be tragic if Hodgson follows the normal England routine of taking too much notice of the press and picking for the 'big' clubs (or at least those that think they are big). The omens in the last two games have not been good. Last night we were crying out for a big strong centre forward to get on the end of Townsend and Baines crosses. When Rooney did we clawed ourselves ahead. Instead of bringing on Rickie though we were forced to sit through almost 170 mins of the ineffective Sturridge. I hope I am wrong but somehow I doubt Hodgson has the rocks to make a real change and will pay lip service only resulting in our customary (underperforming) early exit.

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bstokesaint added 13:28 - Oct 17 If Clyne, Shaw, Cork, JWP, Lallana or Rodriguez played for Man U, Chelsea or Arsenal they would be a regular in the England squad by now. You could probably add Chambers to that list too because he's had a couple of decent games deputising in the first team. We're currently sitting 4th in the PL with roughly 50% of our first team being English players. You don't hear many of the pundits making that point. If we were Man U and Fergie hadn't just left, people would be referring to us as his next batch of English superstar kids. It's laughable really. That said I enjoy watching Lambert and any other of our players playing for England, but if they don't get the recognition they deserve then selfishly I'm not all that bothered because I get to see them at St. Mary's week in week out. Unfortunately the national team just continues to miss out as a result of ignorance in the powers that be.

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thegeneral added 17:26 - Oct 17 I agree with everything bstokesaint has said. I would just add don't forget Jack Cork, he's better now than that fool Carrick ever was.
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