The two Manchester sides have eleven players in Fabio Capello's latest squad between them. It seems quite incredible, but I honestly believe it is good for the national team. Many of these players will be playing together week-in week-out, and will have a good understanding of one another.
Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley are two of the players who have been included, which is wonderful to see. Both were involved with the under-21's earlier in the summer, and now they are pushing for a place in the first team.
There is no doubt that their form for Manchester United has been incredible – Jones has been as solid as a rock at the back, while I am finding it hard to avoid puns on the other player's name to describe his contribution to the Reds' midfield.
It is interesting to see that Rio Ferdinand has been omitted from the squad. I don't think that will be the end of his international career, but I do certainly agree with Capello's decision to start bringing through the younger players.
Germany proved at the World Cup that it is possible to have a successful team filled with young players – Alan Hansen certainly would not have believed what he was seeing. If these players are good enough, then why not include them.
As for Manchester City, they have provided possibly the best England keeper since David Seaman – some might even argue you could go further back than that – Shilton, perhaps? The wonderful thing is that he, too, is young. As a goalkeeper, he has got ten years of international football ahead of him, at the very least.
Of course, it is not up to me who Capello puts out against Bulgaria and Wales this week, but any football follower loves to speculate about such things.
There is no question as to who starts in goal – Joe Hart is the only one of the three goalkeepers plying his trade in the Premier League this season. Robert Green probably will drift out of the England set-up over the next few years, while David Stockdale is undoubtedly a fantastic goalkeeper, and he will get his chance one day.
Micah Richards has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season in the Premier League, and would be my pick for the right-back role. Ashley Cole still remains one of the top left-backs in the game, and still is a key member of the England squad. He'd be my first choice for left back.
I'd go for a centre-back pairing of John Terry and Phil Jones. Terry is the captain of England, and a born leader. He will still be around for another couple of tournaments yet, and forms the heart of the defence. Jones will benefit from playing alongside him, and could even be a future captain himself.
This might be a touch controversial, but I would stick the left footed Stewart Downing on the right for England. He begun his Liverpool career fantastically, and has operated down the right for them mostly anyway. It would allow Ashley Young to start on the left, where he prefers to play too.
Tom Cleverley and Frank Lampard have to be the central pairing. Again, the younger player will benefit from playing alongside a wise old head, and Lampard will always be a key part of the national team so long as he is still featuring regularly for Chelsea.
Wayne Rooney should lead the attack. He looks to be back to his glorious best for Manchester United this season, and hopefully, coming off the back of a hat-trick, he can carry that form into the England side.
I would partner him with Andy Carroll. This is mainly because the Liverpool man looks like he really could be the future of the national team, and playing alongside Rooney could bring the best out in him. His powerful presence will trouble a lot of European teams.
For some players, however, the international break will allow some much needed recuperation, while club's will be able to sit back and assess how to improve on their starts.
There has been no lack of entertainment in the first three games of the Premier League, and hopefully that will continue. It is great to see the young players getting their chance, and when England travel to Bulgaria, we will be able to see whether it has all paid off.
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