Stoke City boss Tony Pulis insists skipper Ryan Shawcross is England class.
The former Manchester United junior is in outstanding form.
"In my opinion, he deserves to be in the England set-up, but my opinion doesn't count," said Pulis. "I saw him playing at Hyde United four years ago, in a third-team game. To see the way Ryan has come on has been brilliant.
"He has been part of what we've done. He has been one of the blocks that the club has been built upon.
"But it makes no difference to me whether he is playing for England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales or whoever it is. The most important thing is he plays well for our football club.
"Everybody loves Ryan. He is captain of the football club and everyone appreciates him and likes him. That is the big thing for me.
"If playing for England comes along, brilliant. But it's not the be all and end all for him. He is at a great football club that really appreciate him and he appreciates being here."
