Ever since he signed for Crystal Palace midway through the 2013-14 season, Scott Dann has been one of, if not the most consistent performer for the Eagles during his time at the club.
The 29-year-old has yet to be called up to the England squad and we feel that’s an injustice.
Considering how poor England face been in recent years, failing to make an impact on the international stage largely down to a shaky defence, who better than Scott Dann to come in and make a statement?
We’ve detailed a handful of reasons why Dann should be handed an England call-up for the next round of fixtures.
Consistency
Dann has now made 100 appearances for Crystal Palace and has never let the club down.
He’s always been a consistent performer for the club and was rewarded with the captaincy over the summer which is a reflection of his on-field ability.
He’s been courted by the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in the past who would love a no-nonsense defender like Dann.
Leadership
As mentioned, Dann was made Eagles captain over the summer because he is a commanding voice in the dressing room.
He organises the defence well and drills them into shape, especially at set plays where Palace are particularly strong.
The England side are currently lacking a vocal leader at the back and have been without one since John Terry retired from international football.
Dann would make a great voice at the heart of the England defence.
Poor Competition
When you look at the players he’s vying with, competition isn’t very strong.
Gary Cahill has had a very shaky start to the season with Chelsea, as has Chris Smalling with Manchester United.
Phil Jagielka is currently out-of-favour with the England set-up, with only John Stones playing regularly at a high level.
A player like Stones, a terrific ballplayer, would be an ideal partner for Dann, a player who can sit and cover and organise those around him.
Need for Fresh Faces
Under Sam Allardyce, England need to break the mould of before and introduce some fresh faces into the squad.
Those who tried and failed during the Roy Hodgson era need to be cast aside – let’s give other players a chance.
Michail Antonio was the first beneficiary. Although yet to receive a cap, he’s in that first-team set-up now and more need to follow.
The likes of Dann, Curtis Davies, Aaron Cresswell, maybe even James Tomkins as well should be considered going forward.