england

The conveyor belt whirrs on, the fresh blood keeps on dripping. As England prepare for another long weekend of numb European Championship qualification, there is at least an added tang of intrigue to be found in the sudden and enforced call-ups of Ezri Konsa, Cole Palmer, and Rico Lewis. All three are novices of the senior international stage, all three are emblematic of the meritocratic tendencies which Gareth Southgate has been repeatedly accused of suppressing during his managerial tenure.

Of the trio, you could perhaps argue the Konsa's nod is the most overdue. At 26, he is a relative veteran compared to the boyish Palmer and Lewis, and certainly, much like the man he has been parachuted in to deputise for, Lewis Dunk, his performances have deserved recognition for far longer than he has been on the Three Lions' radar.

Then there is Palmer, the wily, wiry Chelsea attacker who bolted from the shadows at Manchester City and straight into the attentions of a watching nation. Four goals and two assists in 10 Premier League appearances since would suggest that he made the right decision.

But it is perhaps the player he left behind at the Etihad who fascinates most. Rico Lewis, quietly and with minimal upheaval, has established himself as a key component in Pep Guardiola's plans in a manner that no academy graduate since Phil Foden has. And generally speaking, as a rule of thumb, if a player is good enough for the treble-winning conquerors of Europe, he's good enough to be featuring for England too.

Still only 18, Lewis has already registered 10 outings for City so far this season, sometimes in the engine room, sometimes at full-back, and often at the expense of the Southgate-approved Kalvin Phillips. The fact that the teenager has ostensibly been called up to replace the injured James Maddison would suggest that the national boss regards him very much as a midfielder.

And, provided Lewis can carry his club form into the international game, that could be a real moment of epiphany for England. In his current tactical guise, Southgate often likes to deploy a three-man unit in the centre of the park. It would be nothing short of unimaginable if two thirds of that cohort was not made up of Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham by the time next summer's European Championships rolls around. But at the time of writing, that third spot is very much contestable.

The aforementioned Maddison is an obvious option, especially given his stunning form for Tottenham this season, but whether or not Southgate will regard him as too attack-minded in cagier affairs remains to be seen. Likewise, Lewis' teammate Phillips will be in contention, but could struggle to properly stake a claim if he fails to secure regular first team football in January.

Elsewhere, Jordan Henderson is increasingly on the wane, Conor Gallagher is a popular candidate but maybe lacks an undeniable star power, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, while representing the thinking man's choice, is still not really a midfielder.

It is against this backdrop that you find yourself asking, 'Why couldn't Rico Lewis have a pop at sneaking his way into Southgate's plans?'. He is playing consistently for the best team in the world, he is under the guidance of one of the greatest club managers of all time, and he boasts a versatility that we know the Waistcoated One values highly. All of the pieces are there.

The upcoming double header against Malta and North Macedonia, however formulaic and rote in other ways, could be an opportunity for the City youngster the prove his worth. But make no mistake, even if Southgate is not convinced instantly, this should be the first of many, many caps for Lewis.