Wilshere’s namesake Jack Charlton was infamous for discovering long-forgotten Irish ancestry among players when putting together his Republic of Ireland teams.

So the current debate is nothing new – but yet again it focuses solely on the players.

What about us fans?

If players can pick what international team to line-up for then surely we can choose which side to follow?

Let’s face it, England are crap and will never win anything.

Now those Spanish lads seem fairly decent, and I’ve spent a fair bit of time in the country on my holidays, so that should mean I’m qualified to stand among the locals and cheer on the chicos.

I’m sure I can draw a tenuous enough connection to Argentina, Brazil or even Germany to switch my scarf at the blow of the whistle to will on the team with the best chance of winning.

It seems the natural extension of a Premier League where English players are in the minority and fans follow teams from miles away just because they win things.

But that sort of thing is not for real football fans.

I’ll follow England however dire they are – because I’m English and proud of it.

My training as a West Ham fan means glory-hunting isn’t in my vocabulary.

Neither was Spurs 0 West Ham 3 until last Sunday.

Now that was a day to savour – I’ve never rewound highlights on Match of the Day 2 so often.

Obviously I didn’t have enough faith in the mighty Irons to bet on them so let’s see what can make us cash this international weekend.

It pains me to say this, but England look horrible value at 4/11 to beat Montenegro Friday night.

Roy’s boys are draw specialists against anyone half decent and I fear the 7/2 about a Wembley draw looks the way to go in this one.

We’ve drawn home and away with Ukraine, and with Montenegro and Poland away, so the pattern seems too strong to ignore.

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Running Total for all bets this season to a £10 stake: £-36.00