Everton's Osman stakes his claim to be an England Leon-heart

I agree, i thought Leon was the best match on the pitch on Sunday, against a team with players who must be twice his size and weight!! Up until he got injured he was, for me, Everton's player of the season - particularly against Sunderland at home, where he played the game of his life and early on at Tottenham when he ran the game. I suppose the only way to find out if he is England class is to give him a chance, but I cant see that happening. Big time charlies like Gerrard and Lampard command too much sway with the National despite being the two most overrated players in Europe. Its why England never win anything.

No one but us Everton fans will agree that he's a great little player that at least deserves a look at by Cappello - whether or not he's good enough for the National team, I'm not so sure. Personally I'd rather we kept gems like Osman a secret between us blues. Look at how well Petrov played for Man City when he first came - 6 months later and after everyone sung his praises, now every right back in the division knows how to play against him. Even Hibbert (sorry Tony) got the better of him recently. Let's keep it to ourselves that he's a good player, eh?

Couldn't agree more. When he was in EFC rewserves he was touted as the a star of the future. He went to Derby on loan - ask their fans about him?! He is as good player on the ball as anyone in the premiership and does a lot of chasing and tavkling too. I am actually amazed (and pleased that neither Fergie nor Wenger have come in for him as he would really shine playing off the kinds of players these two teams have).

He's a fantastic technician and the sort of central midfielder England have lacked since Scholes and prior to that, Gascoigne. Pure footballers like him are common in places like Portugal, Spain and Italy but they're a rarity here.