The intention of a loan move is usually to get a few minutes under your belt, show your parent club what you can do, and ultimately earn a place in the starting lineup or walk away.
However, in recent years several England have broken that mould, enjoying hugely successful seasons on loan and receiving Gareth Southgate’s call to join his Three Lions side – just about the highest possible recognition for your impressive form.
Here are the players who were loaned out and broke into the England team…
Loan club: Crystal Palace
Parent club: Chelsea
The English star of the 2021/22 season.
A member of Chelsea’s burgeoning loan army, Conor Gallagher enjoyed a hugely successful spell at Crystal Palace under legendary Premier League midfielder Patrick Vieira.
Epsom Essien already have 13 goals for the season and received their first call-up in November after a brisk start to the campaign.
Loan club: West Ham
Parent Club: Manchester United
Ironically, it may take another loan – or even a permanent transfer – for Jesse Lingard to be called back into the England squad.
Once a regular at the Three Lions’ roster, the attacking midfielder was forced to leave Old Trafford for West Ham in 2021 to give himself a shot at making the Euro 2020 squad.
Lingard has been sublime for the Hammers, scoring nine times and assisting five more in just 16 appearances for the club. It was enough to earn him a spot on Southgate’s initial roster, but it was eventually cut when the band was downsized.
Loan club: Sheffield United
Parent Club: Manchester United
Another Man Utd player whose career has stalled for the past two seasons.
In Sheffield United’s successful debut season in the Premier League in 2019/20, Dean Henderson looked to have all the attributes to usurp Jordan Pickford as England’s number one – earning a call-up in 2019 after a strong start to life in the top flight . .
Alas, a breakthrough just hasn’t happened at club level, with Henderson making just 31 appearances in the two seasons since.
Loan club: Swansea
Parent club: Chelsea
When on earth did Tammy Abraham go on loan and break into the England squad, you ask?
This one may have escaped your memory, but the striker was called up in November 2017 for friendlies against international giants Germany and Brazil – and he made his debut against the former.
Abraham was then on loan at Swansea City in the Premier League, although this call-up was largely based on his brilliant form at Bristol City the previous season.
Loan club: Crystal Palace
Parent club: Chelsea
Another productive loan from Chelsea to Palace.
You start to wonder if things will ever be as good as the 2017/18 season was for Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Although the heartthrob midfielder plays semi-regularly for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, his standout campaign arguably came at Selhurst Park.
Included in Southgate’s squad for the same friendlies as the aforementioned Abraham, Loftus-Cheek starred on his debut against Germany – winning the man of the match award with a typically marauding display.
His form was so good throughout the season that he was even included in Southgate’s 23 for the 2018 World Cup, where he unexpectedly started two group games en route to the semi-finals.
Honorable mentions to Ben Foster, Chris Kirkland and Scott Carson, all of whom have been called up in the past after various loans – such is the life of a goalkeeper.
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