It is a mark of how far Saints have come that they have two strikers vying for a place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.

Talk this week that the England manager is considering a call-up for the in-form Jay Rodriguez comes on the back of a widespread clamour among Saints fans to see Rickie Lambert given international recognition.

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Add to that young full backs Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne also getting up to under-21 level, and the whole picture summarises Saints’ rise.

England have a double header of fixtures at the end of the season, both friendly games.

The first is against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley, the second a prestige trip to Rio de Janiero to face Brazil.

To say it would be a dream come true for any English player to be involved in such a game would be fair.

For Lambert or Rodriguez it would be virtually mind blowing given their rises to the top.

Based purely on numbers it seems incredible that Rodriguez would be ahead of Lambert in any potential call-up pecking order, but that is probably the truth of the matter.

Lambert may well be the top scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season, but Hodgson has shown no inclination to pick him so far.

The England manager is trying to build for the future and, though in international football many believe there should always be room for a form man, managers don’t always agree and with Lambert approaching 32-years-old he is certainly one for now rather than the future.

His big man stature does give him an added string to his bow if Hodgson was looking for someone of that ilk, but Lambert might well need to finish the season with 20 plus league goals for it to be almost impossible for the England boss to continue to ignore him. And, if he doesn’t get in now, then he almost certainly never will.

While Lambert has age against him, Rodriguez has it very much on his side.

The 23-year-old is enjoying a superb first season in the Premier League following a £7m move from Burnley.

Having spent the early part of the campaign coming in and out of a struggling team, generally tucked away on the left, he has suddenly flourished in the top flight given a consistent run in a position he clearly enjoys.

He has shown no fear in taking apart some of the biggest teams and great composure in front of goal.

Rodriguez also has versatility as an added string to his bow.

He clearly could play as an out and out striker, or in his current role which is a little deeper, able to pick up the ball and run at players.

The fact he has played most of his career as a striker means that when he gets into position he can finish clinically.

Hodgson saw Rodriguez destroy Liverpool first hand at St Mary’s, and it’s understood England number two Ray Lewington has been to watch him since.

With three goals in three games, and some mighty impressive performances as well, could it be that Rodriguez actually pips his Saints colleague to an England call-up?

Either way just to be having these discussions shows how far Saints have come so quickly.