With the transfer merry-go-round put on the back-burner for another three months or so, the players can now get their minds back on football and the immediate focus is on the international scene with vital Euro 2012 qualifiers coming up on Friday as England (1/8 Group G Winner) look to maintain their position at the top of their group.
The Three Lions are currently level on points with Montenegro but have a superior goal difference and will be confident of taking maximum points from their trip to Bulgaria (Bulgaria 6/1, Draw 3/1, England 1/2 Match Betting).
Scott Parker has seemingly safe-guarded his future in the national set-up after leaving Championship side West Ham for Tottenham, while another summer transfer target, Gary Cahill, has to now accept that his immediate chances of European football remain with England as he will be staying at Bolton.
England opened their European qualifying campaign last September with a 4-0 success over Friday’s opposition but there are sure to be those who still feel that Capello’s men can be hit and miss.
The 4-0 scoreline may well have been different in the reverse fixture had Stanislav Angelov not missed a one-on-one chance against Joe Hart on the hour before England went straight down the other end to make it 2-0.
Jermain Defoe (6/1 First Goalscorer) scored a hat-trick at Wembley in that win but has struggled with form and injury since, and has yet to open his Premier League account this term – although Spurs have only played two games.
Andy Carroll has yet to score in the Premier League for Liverpool this season (11/0 Anytime Scorer) while England are without Darren Bent, who has pulled out with an injury.
Wayne Rooney sticks out like a sore thumb in the goalscoring markets after a fantastic start to Manchester United’s title defence with five goals in three games – but that is reflected in the betting as he is an 8/11 anytime scorer and 3/1 First or Last.
It may well be worth taking a chance on the bigger prices, depending on how Capello sets up the side, and Ashley Young is in top form following his move to Old Trafford and can be backed at 7/1 to get on the scoresheet.
Bulgaria still have a chance of making it to Euro 2012 but, lying six points behind the group leaders and losing to both earlier in the campaign, they need some big results in their last three games.
After losing those first two games, they have gone unbeaten under new boss Lothar Matthaus but two have been draws, while they have yet to score at home in the campaign.
Their record against England is poor as well as they are yet to taste victory in nine games, losing five, although they have only lost one of three previous games in Sofia.
Ivelin Popov has scored Bulgaria’s only two goals in qualifying to date in the 1-0 win over Wales and the 1-1 draw in Montenegro and is worthy of consideration at 10/1 to open the scoring for those who spy a shock.
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England midfielder Joe Cole says he will put to one side issues surrounding his club future and concentrate fully on World Cup duty over the next month (England 3/1 – to be top European team).