The World Cup is less than four months away - and Fabio Capello has some difficult decisions to make.
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is the best English player in the world today? There"s a World Cup coming, time to look lively. Sportsmail"s latest edition of The List celebrates the 50 best English footballers in the world today. Who should be in Fabio Capello"s sights? Tell us the rising stars, the established stars not pulling their weight, and those you"d like to see return from international retirement.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Next week he will send out a team to face Egypt in what will be England"s last friendly before he names the provisional squad for South Africa 2010.
Who"s in his thoughts? Is there a man to fill Ashley Cole"s boots if the Chelsea man doesn"t recover in time? Which of his imperfect goalkeepers will get the nod between the sticks?
Sportsmail try to help out the Italian by revealing the top 50 English players of the here and now. Long-term injured stars such as Owen Hargreaves misses out, because, for example, it seems unlikely he can recover form and fitness in time for Manchester United.
But we highlight some uncapped starlets that Capello should gamble on, pick out the retired stars who should be leaned on to reconsider and reveal those regulars who justify their place in the squad.
As ever, we countdown with 10 per day, unveiling our No 1 on Friday, and you can join in the debate.
Read numbers 40-31 HERE.
30 Ashley Young (Aston Villa)One of the next generation of exciting young English players, Young is an important part of Martin ONeills high-flying Aston Villa.
Competition is fierce in all areas of Fabio Capellos side but Young has all the attributes to consider his chances of making the squad are better than most.
He has the pace to worry even the best defences, can deliver an accurately from a dead-ball situation, he chips in with goals and, crucially, he has a fine left foot.
Pace and experience: Ashley Young (left) and David Beckham
29 David Beckham (Milan)Not so long ago, the hopes of an entire nation rested on the shoulders of David Beckham. Not anymore.
At 34, Beckhams contribution will be nothing more than peripheral at the World Cup but dont underestimate the contribution, however small, of Englands second most capped player.
His recent display for AC Milan against Manchester United proved that although he no longer has the engine of five years ago, there is no better deliverer of the ball in the world.
28 Matthew Etherington (Stoke)The eternal runner, Etherington works his socks off down the left wing and puts in regular man-of-the-match performances for Stoke.
Still battling gambling addiction and a recent knee injury has halted his progress but he should be back in Tony Puliss side within the next couple of weeks.
The former Peterbrough, Tottenham and West Ham star has yet to make his full international debut yet but Capello has said hell pick players on form, and Etherington has plenty of that.
On a wing and a prayer: Matthew Etherington and David James have been injured
27 David James (Portsmouth)James career has taken in six clubs, an FA Cup final victory and the ;Calamity moniker but he has never faced a challenge as great as the one that faces him at Portsmouth.
Pompey are in a parlous state and in a World Cup season, James lost his place to Asmir Begovic. It couldnt have gone much worse for the England regular.
However, his persistence paid off. He has regained his place after Begovics departure and despite the south coast clubs
26 Ryan Shawcross (Stoke)Declared surplus to requirements by Sir Alex Ferguson, Shawcross has since become indispensable to Tony Pulis after his 1m move to Stoke.
The 6ft 5ins centre-back scored a perfectly decent winner against Manchester City which was struck off but scoring goals is not the part of his game which earns him headlines.
He possesses pace, strength and a cool head in both penalty areas. This World Cup may come to soon for the 22-year-old but he is certainly one for the future.
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