I READ a ‘retweet’ this week which questioned how Nathan Delfouneso could pip Jay Rodriguez in the England Under 21s shortlist.

It’s a fair point, and the writer wasn’t the first to throw that debate open.

After all, the stats don’t lie.

Delfouneso has three goals in 27 appearances for both Aston Villa and Burnley, where he spent the last two months of the season on loan.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, joint top-scored with 15 from 48 appearances, 43 of which were starts.

Even Ipswich striker Connor Wickham, reportedly a target for a clutch of top end top flight teams and who has also made Stuart Pearce’s shortlist, cannot match Rodriguez for goals or games.

Burnley’s homegrown striker might not be Premier League, but he has Premier quality and is all the better for almost a full season of second tier football after breaking into the side in September.

It’s hard to believe that I was watching him strut his stuff in the reserves at Stalybridge last August, in a 6-0 thrashing of Oldham Athletic.

Naturally, he was among the many goals, and afterwards he spoke of his determination to impress then manager Brian Laws and dislodge the strike pairing of Martin Paterson and summer signing Chris Iwelumo.

His eyes told a story of frustration, but it didn’t affect his work-rate and his patience ultimately paid off when a first-half injury to Ross Wallace at Crystal Palace opened the first team door.

He’d had to knock on it for a while. He couldn’t have imagined he would be doing the same to Stuart Pearce’s in the close season, after earning his first Under 21s cap.

Even when Delfouneso arrived at Turf Moor for his loan spell from Villa it was never going to be at the expense of Rodriguez’s place in the Burnley side.

On occasion it meant he didn’t take up the central striking role that he would probably prefer, but he’d already proved capable in wide areas in a fluid forward line.

Rodriguez certainly merited selection. But you can understand why Pearce has, for this tournament, stuck with players who have been tried and tested more under his watch.

Delfouneso was outstanding in their last friendly, against Iceland, at Deepdale in March – almost unplayable in a left-sided role of a 4-1-4-1 line-up.

There is no doubt further international experience would have been the icing on the cake and fitting recognition of a terrific season for the 21-year-old.

But while Eddie Howe will be disappointed for Rodriguez, he will see the benefits for the bigger picture. Rodriguez has played more football this season than ever before and will be ready for a rest.

And as former Burnley and England midfielder Martin Dobson said, this doesn’t have to be the end of Jay’s international dream.