Shaun Wright-Phillips got the message in the end. So did Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson. We are still waiting for Wayne Bridge to fall in. Good players play. It is as straightforward as that.

Indeed, Fabio Capello, the England manager, could not have made it any clearer. He does not tolerate senior members of his squad hiding behind their wallets in the reserve teams of elite clubs. Those under consideration for an England starting place must be first-team regulars. When England walk out against Kazakhstan on Saturday, at least two in the starting line-up are likely to be players who swapped walk-on parts in Hollywood blockbusters for what can be termed meatier roles in more low-key productions.

Wright-Phillips left Chelsea for Manchester City and is expected to get his reward with an international return in place of the injured Joe Cole. Johnson appears to have claimed Wes Brown's berth at right back. Not far behind are Portsmouth's striking partnership of Crouch and Defoe, installed as understudies to Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney. Bridge is around the squad, but no one mentions him in the same breath as Ashley Cole any more. In part, this is because of the much improved form of the Chelsea and England first-choice left back; equally, though, this is because Bridge is rarely afforded prominence these days. He has settled for a career as a wealthy understudy when he would walk into the starting line-up at most Barclays Premier League clubs.

Wright-Phillips cost Chelsea £21million but soon settled into a life of Carling Cup ties and squad rotation. Sold to Manchester City this season, his displays have been more Brazilian than the Brazilians'.

“My first thought when I left Chelsea was just to make the most of playing again and to try to get back to being the player I once was,” Wright-Phillips said. “I can't say I regret leaving because life would be easy if you knew how everything was going to work, but I hope I went back to Manchester City a better player, wiser on and off the field. The mental side of my game was stronger and I was more sensible with decisions I made during the game and how I dealt with certain situations. But in the end, I enjoy playing too much and I missed it.

“Not being in the first team cost me my England place, and that gave me the kick I needed. It made me want to get back to being what I was, the player that was exciting to watch and full of confidence. I was always a positive person who helped his team. People thought I took a chance leaving Chelsea, but I thought this would make me happy and I was right.”