Curtis Davies celebrates after Hull City’s win over Swansea on Saturday. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/Reuters

Five outsiders Sam Allardyce should consider for his first England squad

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Before picking his squad on Sunday, the new England manager should consider Curtis Davies, Jack Cork, Mark Noble, Nathan Redmond and Andros Townsend

By Ben McAleer for WhoScored?, part of the Guardian Sport Network

Curtis Davies, Hull

At 31 years of age, time is not on Curtis Davies’ side as he strives for international recognition. Yet, the centre-back has enjoyed a blistering start to life back in the Premier League, with his rating (8.44) the fourth best in the division and top for players to start both games so far. Hull, meanwhile, are one of four teams to have won both of their games, including an opening day victory over defending champions Leicester City.

As the club’s only fit centre-back, Davies has been instrumental at the heart of the defence. He has made more interceptions (16) and blocked more shots (five) than any other player, ranks joint-first for headed clearances (13), and third for total clearances (18) in the Premier League after two games. Sam Allardyce will be keen to avoid defeat in his first game against Slovakia next mont and Davies’ performances so far, coupled with his experience, suggest his call up could be worth exploring.

Jack Cork, Swansea City

Like Davies, Jack Cork is yet to earn that precious first England cap, despite his consistent outings for Southampton and now Swansea in the Premier League. The 27-year-old is no stranger to the international stage, having played his way through the England youth ranks and again for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics. Yet, it’s been four years since Cork was handed an international call-up of any kind, during which time he has established himself as a key player for Swansea.

His rating (7.42) is the third best for Swansea this season, with Cork winning possession in the midfield third more times (19) than any other player in the Premier League this season. An average of 70.5 passes per game also ranks highly, with Cork maximising his impressive reading of the game to not only rob the opposition of possession, but to retain the ball. Both are key assets on the international stage and, after the England midfield struggled at Euro 2016, Cork’s inclusion could provide the shot in the arm the international regulars require to ensure their performance levels do not drop.

Mark Noble, West Ham

The fact that Mark Noble is yet to win an England cap is criminal. His tireless work off the ball helps to shield the defence, with Noble capable of dropping deeper to win possession. Indeed, only Ahmed Elmohamady (18) has won possession in the defensive third more times than the West Ham captain (17) this season.

His retention qualities shows Noble doesn’t needlessly sacrifice possession once he has the ball at his feet. Of central midfielders to play all 180 minutes in the Premier League this season, only three have a better pass success rate than Noble (90.8%), while no player has been fouled more times than him (seven). His ability to ease pressure on his team’s goal is one of Noble’s strongest assets. Allardyce is a big fan of Noble and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he were called up.

Nathan Redmond, Southampton

Following Norwich’s relegation, Nathan Redmond was one of a handful of players who was expected to return to the Premier League this season. Indeed, it came to pass when Southampton paid around £10m to make him Claude Puel’s first signing. It was a hefty fee for a player who had scored just seven goals in 69 appearances across two spells in the Premier League but Puel had every intention of turning Redmond from a tricky winger into a striker in his favoured 4-3-1-2 formation.

That proved to be the case when Redmond impressed in the opening day 1-1 draw with Watford, as the 22-year-old scored Southampton’s equaliser to earn his side a point. While he couldn’t follow that up with a strong showing against Manchester United, the youngster’s commendable start to life on the south coast suggests a first senior cap will come about sooner rather than later.

Only two players have made more key passes from open play than Redmond (six) in the league so far this season, with his creative qualities in the final third something Allardyce could exploit, particularly if he opts for a two-man striker partnership. Given Redmond’s searing pace and willingness to get in behind the opposition defence, he could prove to be a viable asset for the new England boss.

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Andros Townsend, Crystal Palace

The appointment of Allardyce has brought given every England outcast a chance. Andros Townsend hasn’t exactly been cast to the abyss – he was included in Roy Hodgson’s preliminary squad for their doomed Euro 2016 campaign – but only made a 15-minute cameo in the 2-1 win over Australia at the Stadium of Light before being cut. Townsend enjoyed a notable end to the season with relegated Newcastle, which resulted in a switch to Crystal Palace. The club have lost both of their games so far but Townsend has been one of their better performers in defeats to West Brom and Tottenham, as his rating (7.53) suggests.

The 25-year-old winger has attempted more crosses from open play (17) than any other player in the league so far. Should Allardyce look to implement a system where a target man leads the attack, Townsend’s willingness to put the ball into the box could be very useful. Having last made a competitive appearance for the national team from the bench last October, his international career could be revived under Allardyce.