England Watch: Scholes, Hart, Ferdinand, Cole and Lescott – the weekend’s top performers
Stuart Pearce has assumed caretaker charge of England following Fabio Capello's departure and will be running the rule over prospective Three Lions candidates for Euro 2012, ahead of the friendly with the Netherlands on 29 February.
These five players certainly did their chances of a starting berth at Wembley absolutely no harm over the weekend…
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand personified calm at the heart of Man United's defence in their important win against Liverpool. An uncomfortable fall early on appeared to jar his neck, but Rio recovered with a crucial and perfectly timed challenge on Luis Suarez minutes before the interval. There wasn't much Ferdinand could have done to prevent Liverpool's consolation strike that deflected off his chest into Suarez's path. More importantly, his all round showing will have provided Stuart Pearce with plenty to think about heading into the friendly with Holland.
Joleon Lescott
Lescott again popped up with an unlikely goal at Aston Villa, having latched on to a corner in City's 3-2 win over Spurs last month. Another assured performance on Sunday showed the City defender is ready to fight not just for the Premier League title, but also a place in England's Euro 2012 side.
Joe Hart
England's number one could have sat on a stool in front of City's goal, flicking through Sunday's papers until Villa produced a late, five minute onslaught, in which he was required to be at his brilliant best. First, Hart adjusted his body majestically from point blank range to deny Darren Bent, and minutes later bravely palmed a dangerous cross away to safety when an equaliser looked imminent. It's a great sign for England when their goalkeeper can keep focus despite long spells with little to do, pulling off saves that are as good as a goal for his team.
JOE COLE
Five minutes after the break in Lille on Sunday, the reigning French Champions trailed Bordeaux 3-1, a score-line threatening to resemble a Six Nations result by full-time. The introduction of Joe Cole, who linked up brilliantly with Eden Hazard for half an hour, sparked life into Lille's attack. Heading into injury time, it seemed fans were drooling over a 4-4 classic until a late, late Bordeaux winner. Cole hasn't featured for England since 2010, but eight goals and three assists in 28 games for Lille have reignited hopes of an England recall he so desperately craves.
Paul Scholes
Amid the controversy surrounding pre-match pleasantries, it was 37-year-old Scholes - summoned back from retirement by Sir Alex last month - who dictated the tempo with a throwback to some of his best form at United. A first-half move he began with a delightful weighted pass out wide should have ended with a goal when Scholes himself darted into the box to meet Giggs' cross, only to see Pepe Reina save. In the second-half, Rooney would have sealed a splendid hat-trick, had he been sharp enough to anticipate Scholes' clever dummy just outside Liverpool's penalty area. Another return from retirement ahead of Euro 2012? On this form, why not?