SAINTS will have three players in an England side for the first time in nearly 28 years if Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and Adam Lallana all play together next week.

Not since January 1986, when Danny Wallace scored in his only international, alongside Peter Shilton and Mark Wright in a 4-0 win against Egypt in Cairo, have Saints had three players in the same England team.

Shilton went on to play in the Mexico 86 World Cup, conceding the infamous Hand of God goal to Diego Maradona in the quarter-finals.

But Wright missed out after breaking a leg in Saints’ FA Cup semifinal against Liverpool and was a Derby County teammate of Shilton’s when they starred together at Italia ‘90.

There were three occasions in 1984 when England fielded a trio of Saints.

A 1-0 Home Championship defeat to Wales at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground in May saw David Armstrong make the last of his three England appearances alongside Shilton and Wright.

Later that year, Steve Williams won the last two of his six caps alongside Shilton and Wright as England won two World Cup qualifiers in convincing fashion; 5-0 against Finland at Wembley and 8-0 win against Turkey in Istanbul.

The last England team to include three Saints (4-0 v Egypt, Cairo, January 29, 1986): PETER SHILTON (Chris Woods 65), Gary Stevens, Kenny Sansom, Gordon Cowans, MARK WRIGHT, Terry Fenwick, Trevor Steven (Ricky Hill 80), Ray Wilkins, Mark Hateley, Gary Lineker (Peter Beardsley 55), DANNY WALLACE. Goals: Steven 14, Own goal 41, Wallace 52, Cowans 80.