There are still three months to go before the first World Cup game in South Africa, but it seems the tournament's silly season is well and truly underway.Premier League managers desperate to pamper the egos of players are only too happy to push forward their claims for a place in Fabio Capello's England squad - and the policy has thrown up a remarkable of variety of names.
Some are actually quite credible.
For example, Joe Hart has been in stunning form during Birmingham's excellent first season back in the top tier. On loan from Manchester City, the England under-21 keeper has caught Capello's eye with a succession of clean sheets.
No wonder Alex McLeish, the Birmingham manager, cornered Capello about Hart last month at the League Managers' Association dinner at Wembley.
And what about Fulham's Bobby Zamora? It was not too long ago that the former Tottenham striker, who endured an ill-fated six month stint at White Hart Lane before joining West Ham, was a painted as a laughing stock among opposition fans.
But he has silenced the boo boys this season with 15 goals which have helped his club reach the last 16 of the Europa League.
"I know the fans were chanting his name for England and that was quite right," said Fulham's experienced manager Roy Hodgson, who cited Capello as a "friend", recently.
But while few observers would keel over in shock if either Hart or Zamora boarded the England plane to South Africa, there are other players who might as well book their summer holidays now than wait for a call from Capello - despite the backing of their managers.
Take Derby's Nigel Clough. A likeable chap, honest and hard-working. But he may well regret suggesting in December that Stephen Bywater could be England's goalkeeping saviour in South Africa.
Despite Sam Allardyce backing Paul Robinson for an England recall, the Blackburn keeper is highly unlikely to add to his 41 caps anytime soon.
And Bolton's Zat Knight can also forget learning the words to the national anthem. Knight was capped twice in 2005 and Owen Coyle believes there is no reason why he cannot feature this summer. He's as good as anything about, if not better," said the Bolton manager, with a straight face.
And what about Charles N'Zogbia at Wigan, the French under-21 international now qualifying for dual French and British nationality? Roberto Martinez, his manager at the DW Stadium, has urged N'Zogbia to use Wigan's relegation scrap to gatecrash Capello's squad.
Despite Wigan's recent poor form, Normandy-born N'Zogbia has been outstanding since leaving Newcastle after then manager Joe Kinnear insulted him during a television interview by calling him Charles 'Insomnia'.
"He's ready to kick on and take his game to another level," said Martinez.
It would certainly cause a stir on both sides of the English Channel if N'Zogbia was called up by Capello.
But despite his man-of-the-match performance in Monday's 1-0 win over Liverpool, the closest N'Zogbia is likely to get to the World Cup is watching it on television.
