England Debate: Is Lennon Now Officially The Successor To Beckham?

It started with a kick out at Diego Simeone in 1998 and we were all convinced it was finished with the umbrella-clad fist of Steve McClaren in 2007. Calls for David Beckham's replacement in the England fold have been unrelenting and often, it could be said, without genuine justification.

Even today, in his brief cameo, he showed he still has world class ability to offer the Three Lions and at least merits a place in the squad. Until recently, that same ability was enough to even earn him a place in the starting XI, due largely to the lack of consistent quality from any of his would-be successors.

David Bentley, despite being something of a namesake, hasn't ever managed the consistency. Shaun Wright-Phillips doesn't seem to have any particularly outstanding attribute. Theo Walcott hasn't yet managed to break through at club level on a consistent basis for one reason or another.

Finally, one has emerged from the pack and he emerged, definitively, tonight. Aaron Lennon has, since Harry Redknapp's arrival at White Hart Lane, hit another level of consistency and quality for Spurs - something that translated perfectly onto the international stage this evening.

It's true, when a 5-1 scoreline of this nature explodes onto the scene, it's all too easy to make a hero of someone - anyone - for the sake of it. Even England's previous thumping over Croatia, the 4-1 win in Zagreb, also yielded a hero from the right-wing to the tune of Theo Walcott's hat-trick.

But this is different. There was a much higher degree of certainty and authority surrounding this particular starring performance. This was something any fan could imagine Lennon doing game after the game, whether in the white of Tottenham or England.

He is a player that has on many occasions been criticised for his lack of quality on the final ball, but not only has he scored two winning goals for Spurs in his last two Premier League games, he capped that with a quality assist tonight and dangerous running that played a part in two of the other five goals.

Frank Lampard may have had an even stronger all-round game, but it's Lennon who will steal the headlines - he stole this one - and deservedly so.

It was Lennon who undeniably emerged tonight and, having already proven his ability to succeed at high levels with starring performances at club level (particularly against Manchester United, running Patrice Evra ragged last season), there is little reason to suggest he can't keep it up for his country. Or are we all just getting a little head of ourselves?

Sulmaan Ahmad, Goal.com

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