Highlights

• The Sun's 2007 predicted future England XI is a failure, with the players mustering only 60 caps combined.
• Ben Amos, once of Manchester United, struggled to dislodge top-quality goalkeepers and now plays in League One.
• Sam Hutchinson, Gavin Hoyte, Robbie Threlfall and Dean Parrett all had underwhelming careers after being hyped as future stars.

When it comes to football, predicting the future can be tough – and this is no better emphasised than by The Sun's attempt to name an 'England XI of the future' back in 2007. The publication came up with a team of stars who they believed were destined for successful England careers, but barely any of the players mentioned managed to make an impact at international level.

While all of us have been guilty of over-hyping certain players, particularly those who play for one's own domestic team, the XI selected by The Sun has mustered just 60 caps between them – 47 of which came from one player. And with many of the team now retired on in the latter stages of their playing days, it's safe to say that the tally won't be rising.

Goalkeeper: Ben Amos

England Caps - 0

Once of Manchester United, Ben Amos was tipped for big things during his youth and even voiced his desire to become the club's first fiddle in the future. The Macclesfield-born stopper was just 21-years-old when he made his Premier League bow, which ended in a clean sheet during a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

However, it was always going to be tough to dislodge the likes of Edwin van der Sar and then David de Gea, who are both considered Premier League greats. Amos was forced to settle for a number of loan spells instead and now plays for Wigan Athletic in the England third tier, League One.

Right-back: Sam Hutchinson

England Caps - 0

Sam Hutchinson is one of a plethora of former Chelsea youngsters who were never afforded a real chance at first-team level given the array of talent they bloat the squad with from overseas. The defender and multiple other talents are seldom given a fair shot of emerging into the first team.

To add more salt to the wound, injuries have blighted the defender's career somewhat, though he is still playing for Reading after spending time on loan at Nottingham Forest, Vitesse and Sheffield Wednesday. Despite never getting a senior call-up to the England national team, the now 34-year-old did manage to tot up four England Under-19 appearances back in the day.

Centre-back: Gavin Hoyte

England Caps - 0

Arsenal fans may remember the name Gavin Hoyte from back in the day, despite him making just four appearances for the north London club, having come through the club's academy ranks. Incredibly, the London-born defender was involved in Arsenal's youngest-ever fielded XI - which may come as a surprise given his lack of minutes at the capital club.

Hoyte did go on to play international football, although sadly, this was with Trinidad & Tobago instead of England, given he decided to switch allegiances. The now right-back is still only 33 and currently plays for Maidstone United, who compete in the National League South (the sixth tier of English football), while he is the younger brother of Justin Hoyte, who also played for the Premier League side.

Centre-back: Micah Richards

England Caps - 13

One of a few half-decent shouts. As Micah Richards has told everyone on Sky Sports, he 'burst onto the scene' as a youngster and looked to be a world-beating prospect when he made his England debut as a fresh-faced 18-year-old. Enjoying a ten-year stint at Manchester City, in which he won two Premier Leagues, Richards went on loan to Serie A side Fiorentina between 2014 and 2015 as a means of getting regular senior minutes under his belt.

Sadly, similarly to Hutchinson, a string of injuries stopped him from kicking on, and the pundit was forced into retirement at the age of just 31 following a substandard spell at Aston Villa.

Left-back: Robbie Threlfall

England Caps - 0

Robbie Threlfall was a vital cog for a Liverpool youth side that won back-to-back FA Youth Cups in 2006 and 2007. Unfortunately for the left-back, that was arguably the peak of his career with him not making the grade in the senior set-up - just like many, many other bright-eyed youngsters.

With no space for him in their star-studded senior squad, the Reds loaned him out several times before selling him to Bradford on a permanent basis in 2010. He stepped down to play semi-professional football at Marine during the 2016/17 season, but then left the club in January 2017.

Centre midfielder: Dean Parrett

England Caps - 0

Dean Parrett started his career at Tottenham Hotspur, but failed to make the step-up to making a senior appearance, unfortunately for him. Touted to become one of the north Londoner's future stars with him wearing the armband during the NLD final in 2008/09, it's safe to say that he failed to live up to expectations.

After bobbing between League One and League Two, Parrett wound up at Wealdstone before signing for Barnet on a short-team deal in January. Upon that contract expiring, he signed for Biggleswade Town in the Southern League - but now, aged 32, is without a club.

Centre midfielder: Michael Johnson

England Caps - 0

Hailed as a youngster who never filled their huge potential, Michael Johnson showed plenty of promise while at Manchester City and looked to be more than capable of making the step up to the senior international level after featuring for the Under-21 side. During his seven-year stint at the Etihad Stadium, he totted up three goals and six assists in 45 senior outings - an impressive feat for someone in that age bracket.

Yet, he called time on his promising career at the age of just 24 due to depression. A terrible shame for such a talented asset, destined to achieve great things - especially given Dietmar Hamann even claimed he was the best young midfielder he ever played with.

Centre midfielder: James Henry

England Caps - 0

Despite not managing to reach the Premier League, Reading-born and bred James Henry has enjoyed a solid career in the lower leagues after failing to make a mark at his boyhood club, having played more than 500 professional matches for the likes of Millwall, Wolverhampton Wanderers and now Oxford United.

Leaving Reading in 2010 was a huge jump but was the right decision to make after a quartet of loan spells during his three-year stint in Berkshire. Perhaps Henry never reached the heights that were laid before him back in 2007, with him never receiving that sacred phone call from the England boss, despite starring at Under-19 level on seven occasions.

Right-winger: Theo Walcott

England Caps - 47

Theo Walcott is one of the only players in the team who has gone on to play a substantial amount of international football for England - having amassed just shy of a half-century caps for the Three Lions, plundering eight goals in the process. The London-born gem became England's youngest-ever senior player in 2006 and was selected for England's World Cup squad that year – albeit much to many people's shock.

Emerging through Southampton's academy, the lightning-quick wide man piqued the interest of Arsenal, a club at which he racked up nearly 400 games over a 12-year period. Walcott, now 34, retired in the summer after a two-year stint with Southampton and can often be spotted on television - just in a neatly-steamed suit rather than a muddy football kit.

Striker: Jose Baxter

England Caps - 0

After making his Premier League debut for Everton at just 16 years of age, Jose Baxter was considered a hot prospect - one that many were keeping a close eye on. But his career never truly blossomed into 'what could've been' after a failed loan stint at Tranmere Rovers in the 2011/12 season.

Once tipped to be the next Wayne Rooney, the Bootle-born forward was eventually sold to Oldham Athletic in 2012 and returned to the Latics after a below-par three-year stint at Sheffield United and periods of being without a club. Despite a short stay in the United States with Memphis 901, he's been retired from professional football since August 2021.

Left-winger: Scott Sinclair

England Caps - 0

Given how the rest of the side has petered out, Scott Sinclair isn't the worst shout in the world, although he never received a senior call-up from England. The former Chelsea winger was superb for Swansea City and his performances there earned him a prestigious move to Manchester City in 2012, but it's fair to say that Sinclair's move to Manchester did him little to no favours.

Having shone for Swansea, he was picked up by the Premier League giants in 2012 but faced an irregularity of minutes. Upon his exit, he then enjoyed a brilliant spell at Celtic, where he won a plethora of trophies. He's now plying his trade at Bristol Rovers.