We know what you’re thinking…
But, no, Ruel Fox doesn’t count.
The Norwich and Spurs legend might’ve been inexplicably snubbed by England throughout his career but he did manage two caps with Montserrat – when he was put in charge of managing the national team of course.
Alan O’Brien put the question to us on Sunday night. Who is the best player to never get the national recognition they probably deserved?
Mikel Arteta was the first suggestion.
@SportsJOEdotie interesting statement by a lad in work. Arteta the best player to have never gotten an international cap. Thoughts??
— Alan O'Brien (@aob273) January 17, 2016
A French superstar was a close second.
David Bellion? https://t.co/gRv6rdIHry
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 17, 2016
Then we got real.
Paolo Di Canio, nine under-21 caps with his country, a star all over Europe with Lazio, Juventus, Napoli, AC Milan, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham, and not a sniff of an Italian senior call-up.
There were more clamours for big Steve Bruce though who was overlooked by England. 309 appearances for United, three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, European trophies, silverware with Norwich and only one England B game to show for it.
Bruce or Di Canio became the new Ronaldo or Messi.
It wasn’t just the Bruce and Di Canio show though – a long way from Mikel Arteta now. We have our own man here being overlooked in Richie Towell.
But don’t mention the war.
Or the G word. Especially when it’s all his fault.
Poor Carlo Cudicini was a victim of being a goalkeeper. From Italy.
He wasn’t the only goalkeeper not given a fair crack of the whip though. Steve Ogrizovic anyone?
Big Ogrizovic played for 16 years and over 500 times for Coventry but not once for his country.
But the honour of most Premier League appearances for a non-capped player goes to Sylvain Distin, courtesy of The Guardian.
So who is the most hard-done-by?
Here’s one last perspective-setter for Steve Bruce’s omission.
