As English football slowly wakes up to the realisation that it needs more creative, ball playing midfielders, there is a 31-year-old, born in Wigan, who may feel entitled to wonder what he has to do to be taken seriously as a contender for the national team.
Leon Osman made his debut for Everton a decade ago, at a time when Nigel Martyn, Robbie Fowler and Trevor Sinclair were in the England frame, and when Emile Heskey and Michael Owen were still enjoying leading the line for the Three Lions.
At that time, Nicky Butt and Kieran Dyer were among the front runners in the England midfield pecking order, Gareth Southgate was still an international player, David Beckham yet to leave Manchester United, while Rio Ferdinand was ensconced at Leeds United; Darius Vassell was considered international class and Osman was one of the few to have first-hand knowledge of the talents of a youngster called Wayne Rooney.
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In fact, Osman made his debut for Everton in the same year as Rooney. Whilst the latter has become his country’s best player, it is one of the wonders of English football that Osman has continued to be ignored. Like the small, technically gifted player chosen last as a group of youngsters are selected by two captains for a kickabout, the 5”8 midfielder has been ignored by England managers Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and so far Roy Hodgson.
The player with Cypriot roots has been a model of consistency at one of the most impressive teams in the Premier League of recent years. Everton have got little credit for not only continuing to bang on the door of the European places, but for consistently out performing teams such as Sunderland, Stoke and Aston Villa who have spent far, far in excess of the sums available to the Toffees.
Osman’s close control and passing has been integral for Everton. He rarely gets the attention he deserves – but then he hardly demands it. There are few flashy step-overs or eye catching dribbles – just solid, reliable performances. Nonetheless his creativity and probing are an essential part of a fluid attacking unit at Goodison Park, where Osman works brilliantly with the similarly talented Steven Pienaar.
The 31-year-old has everything the typical England international lacks. He is naturally gifted technically and two-footed. He is intelligent, unafraid to take the ball and prefers to cut inside rather than take the easy route of running into cul-de-sacs out wide. He makes the right decisions, with a natural footballing intelligence which is lacking in many of his compatriots and an eye for a pass before most have even seen it.
In many ways, Osman is the exact opposite of Manchester City’s James Milner, consistently favoured by England managers, despite lacking technique, imagination, footballing intelligence or a decent left foot. Milner is typical of English players: Exceptionally hard working, fast and physically strong, but predictable with the ball, from where he will run with it, when he will play it, to where he will aim it and what foot he will use. It is these habits which make England a limited team destined for defeat the moment they meet good opposition.
With Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley now in the picture, England finally have midfielders who can pass well, are intelligent in possession and help retain the ball. Yet for all those who have bemoaned England’s lack of such a player since Paul Scholes’ retirement, Osman is precisely what the Three Lions have needed for so long. It is one of the mysteries of English football that the Everton star has not been called upon by his country.
Osman, as is his style, will not complain. “I wouldn’t say I have accepted getting called up for England is going to elude me just as I wouldn’t say I was disappointed that a young lad got called up.
“It is what it is. I am an Everton player and try and give my best for them and if I was to ever get called up then that would be great. As you start to get 30-plus the chances start to diminish, but as an English lad you still keep going for your club and if it ever happens that would be great. If it doesn’t, I am not going to get too disappointed.”
It is hard to imagine that deep down there is not just the slightest bit of incredulity that he has not had a chance. This season already Liverpool pair Jonjo Shelvey and Raheem Sterling, and Tottenham star Jake Livermore have all received an England call-up. While Hodgson’s desire to promote youth is commendable, it could be the final nail in the coffin of Osman’s England hopes. And this despite the English Football Association having spent over £100M on a new training complex at St. George’s Park they hope will create players comfortable on the ball for generations to come, a quality the uncapped Osman has in abundance.
Osman has, throughout his career, been ignored in favour of a man who had not made his debut for his club (Theo Walcott), one who pulled out of an Under-21 squad because he was feeling tired (David Bentley), and players who had not even played in the top flight of English football (David Nugent, Jay Bothroyd, Jack Butland).
At 31 years old, time is running out for Osman to gain international recognition, but if Hodgson, following his side’s lacklustre performance against Poland recently, is wondering if there is a quicker fix to England’s problems, he could do far, far worse than turn to one of the most underrated players of his generation.
