DAVID Dunn has to start his preparations for elevation to the England first team from this moment on.
Justifiably Dunny has been pin-pointed as a major talent who can have a big effect on the England team in future years -- but the consequences of such a call are huge and worthy of attention here and now.
And it looks as though in February England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson should hand the Rovers midfielder his chance in the national first team after some excellent showings in the under-21s.
His shoulders are big enough and he has the right temperament, but I am sure he is well aware what his 'chance' might actually entail.
Eriksson has made no bones about the fact that friendly internationals are all about seeing as many players as he can and view his 'options'.
'Option A' is a starting place and 58 minutes on the field.
'Option B' is a substitutes bench slot and 32 minutes on the field.
While 'Option A' carries the inference that the player stands higher on the pecking order, quite often it is the 'Option B' bracket that serves up the better showings.
Leeds United's Danny Mills is the most recent example of making the most of the least time on the field as he made a solid pitch on his second half showing against Sweden.
Whichever category Dunny finds himself in the only approach that can be taken is to try and do the job outlined, with a touch of spice.
Showboating may help but carries inherent risks, while playing it too straight can lead to permanent bit part status -- see Charlton's Chris Powell.
In the end talent will out and that means that David Dunn, tagged in some circles as the new Gazza though you can hardly see the Ewood lad self-destructing in the same manner, will make it through.
But sooner rather than later would be preferable as a World Cup trip under the belt for Japan and South Korea next year would mean that by the tournament in 2010 would see the mature Dunn, then 28, leading the England side into the finals with two tournaments experience already under his belt.
It might be dreaming but it is a scenario that is distinctly possible and if the Rovers star needs to keep one thing in mind it is that image of Bobby Moore lifting the World Cup at Wembley in 1966 -- that might be you!
Finally, I have to admit that some humble pie has to be eaten by yours truly.
After questioning whether the Great Britain rugby league coach David Waite was the right man to have in the job as they took on the Australians, given that he is an Aussie, I have to put my hand up and say "I got it wrong".
The attitude of the Lions at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium last Sunday was just awesome.
Waite deserves all the praise being heaped on him after the 20-12 success over the Roos and hopefully his cool and composed approach will bring a series success into the bargain.
The only good thing about getting this one wrong is that many others did too, and plenty of pundits were a damnsight more vitriolic in their pre-match condemnation of Waite.
It would be no surprise if friends and supporters of Waite are currently contacting the Denby Dale pie club, makers of the world's biggest pie, to see if they have a baking tray they can borrow.
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