Sunderland fullback Phil Bardsley says teammate Kieran Richardson is playing his way back into the England squad.
Bardsley, who came through system at Manchester United with Richardson, said: "He's heading in the right direction to get an England recall, he just needs to keep doing what he is doing now.
"He wants to play for England and I think that time will come again, but first and foremost all he wants to do is keep playing well for Sunderland.
"He has become a real key player for this club. I have played with him for a while now, We are a similar age. He's 24 and I'm 23.
"He's still a chirpy Cockney. I've known him since we were kids and I know what he is all about and he's never changed.
"We were in the same team at (Manchester) United, playing in the FA Youth Cup. He used to run the show in midfield at that age and that's because he was going to be a top player, that's what top players do."