England Must Make Use of Call-Ups to Saido Berahino and Co. for Euro 2016 Match

England's latest Euro 2016 squad has been announced, with manager Roy Hodgson opting for a handful of changes, including a first call-up for West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino, per BBC Sport.

Having netted seven goals this term in the Premier League, Berahino is the highest-scoring English player in the top flight and is behind only Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero in the top scorers chart. The Baggies forward has bounced back to form this term after yo-yoing on a personal level last term, and, combined with the dearth of attacking talent available, doubtless deserves his chance with the national team.

What Roy Hodgson and England must do now, though, is ensure Berahino actually gets his chance to make an impact, with the national team already comfortably looking like qualifying for Euro 2016 and really needing to take the opportunity to see who could contribute at the finals itself.

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Saido Berahino receives his first England senior squad call up. He's scored 10 goals in 13 games at U21 level. pic.twitter.com/WdctkKNtRH

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 6, 2014"

Qualification

England are top with nine points from three games and, realistically, should be looking to cruise through to the finals unbeaten, probably with wins in every match now. Switzerland away should have been the hardest game, but they have fallen off track following Ottmar Hitzfeld's post-World Cup departure.

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At home to Slovenia next week, England can put even further distance between themselves and any challengers to top spot, with their opponents in second place and three points behind at present.

Professionalism has to be maintained, of course, and no opposition at international level should be underestimated, but the uncapped and the inexperienced must get the chance to taste competitive action first-hand before heading into the finals.

There is zero point in calling up the likes of Berahino, Calum Chambers or whoever else if they merely get to watch, then feature for 15 minutes in a friendly against Scotland or Ireland. They might be "rival" teams, but there is no pressure or expectation in winning friendlies and, as anyone who has watched England over the last decade will tell you, no tempo or rhythm to those games either.

Very little will be learned about the players outside of a competitive environment.

Berahino and the Attack

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With Daniel Sturridge still out injured, a space has opened in attack. Rickie Lambert is barely featuring at Liverpool, Wayne Rooney has been suspended for a month and also playing in midfield at Manchester United, so Danny Welbeck is really the only other in-form forward who could be justifiably selected to start.

Of course, it will almost certainly prove to be the Welbeck-Rooney partnership which starts, and perhaps that's right after three games, three wins.

But Berahino should be handed his chance in the match too. He's riding the crest of a wave, full of conviction, work rate and that all-important scoring touch.

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Saido Berahino has scored more goals in the Premier League this season (7) than the England squad's other three strikers combined (5).

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 6, 2014"

If Hodgson opts to stick with the diamond, using Berahino-Welbeck up front and Rooney in a more withdrawn position (as captain, it's unlikely he'll be left out) might be another option for the manager to consider. Either way, Berahino possesses key traits that England need in their front line: movement, pace and confidence.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

One game won't tell everything there is to know about the 21-year-old's ability on the international stage, but it can at least give an indication and also remind others in the squad that their own place is not set or safe.

Recalls

Dave Thompson/Getty Images

The same principles should apply to others in the squad. England are nowhere near a polished machine to imagine that anybody who starts from one game to the next couldn't be dropped, so those called up—Stewart Downing, Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner—who have been in good form for their clubs should rightly hope to get the nod to play.

Downing has done precisely nothing for England in more than 30 caps, but his showings for West Ham United this season—in a diamond, incidentally—should dictate that he be in contention for more than just a squad filler. What's the point in a recall for a 30-year-old if he doesn't feature this time around and is replaced next time?

By the same token, questions have to be asked of why the likes of Theo Walcott—with a grand total of 11 minutes to his name this season—or Michael Carrick—48 minutes—are in the squad this time? Yes, they have proven quality, but they clearly seem a case of name-picking. It is impossible to cite form for their inclusion, certainly.

England have the chance to take another big step toward Euro 2016 with a positive display and win over Slovenia, and as Hodgson continues to shape his new-look squad for the finals, it is vital that Berahino and Co. are given the chance to perform on the big stage, not just be new faces in the squad sitting behind the same names who have failed before them.

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