Osman the inspiration

During this international break Everton have a fair number of players leaving Finch Farm for their international call-ups.

It just goes to show just how far Everton have come in recent years when we'd only have a handful of players on full international duty for these games.

Now we've got three in the England squad thanks to Roy Hodgson, a fact that I cannot tell you when the last occasion was without reaching for the statistic books.

Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are of course old news when it comes to England now, with both expected to start against Sweden in Stockholm tomorrow night.

But our attentions are firmly on 31-year-old Leon Osman who could be inline to win his first international cap.

To say he's a late developer to the international set-up is of course an understatement, according to The Post he hasn't been involved in any England squad since appearing for England`s under-16 team in 1998!

But it won't phase him, not according to his Everton team-mates who will only be to happy to take him under his wing as he meets his new England international team-mates.

"It can be quite daunting when you get called up for the first time but Ossie is someone who will take everything in his stride and I suppose the fact me and Jags are there already will help him. Baines told the paper.

He continued: "He is in our little gang and we are all hoping he gets his first cap because he deserves it. He`s had a brilliant season so far and has shown that if you keep persevering you will get your rewards.

"He has had to wait a long time for this and some people will be wondering why he has been called up but he is a footballer`s footballer."

Inspiration might be pushing it a little, but if anyone wanted an example of never giving up in the quest to chase your dreams then Osman could well be it if he does get to pull on the three lions of England tomorrow night.

Vital Everton is 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forums but you can also write an article to be published on the website or a suggest a poll so you can air your views.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.