England arrive in Montenegro on Thursday for their final Euro 2012 qualifier with coach Fabio Capello considering a debut for Phil Jones.
The Manchester United defender, 19, could start alongside captain John Terry in central defence.Everton's Phil Jagielka is in contention to play at right-back in place of the injured Chris Smalling.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has pressed his claims to start alongside Scott Parker.
Lampard's stand-out performance in practice on Wednesday has opened up the possibility of Capello reverting to a 4-4-2 system and playing another striker alongside Wayne Rooney.
Jones has been a revelation at Old Trafford since his £16m move from Blackburn and won public approval from captain Terry after he trained alongside the teenager in Bulgaria last month.
Of the 18-man matchday squad for England's 1-0 win over Wales in September, only eight were in the party for the 2010 World Cup
Capello was pleased with the performances of Gary Cahill against Bulgaria and Wales but the Bolton man has been in a defence leaking goals at an alarming rate after he was the subject of interest from Arsenal and Tottenham before the transfer window closed.The England boss may yet keep faith with Cahill but Jones is pushing hard for inclusion after continuing to impress the Italian.
Jones's Manchester United team-mate Smalling started against Bulgaria and Wales but has missed the trip to Montenegro with a groin injury.
Manchester City's Micah Richards and Tottenham's Kyle Walker will also be hoping to replace the former Fulham man, but Capello is an admirer of Jagielka and may go with the 29-year-old's experience in what is expected to be a hostile atmosphere at the City Stadium.
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