Jack Wilshere-Januzaj Row: England Internationals Born Overseas
England Internationals XI Born Overseas (PICTURES)
The Huffington Post UK
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Jack Wilshere's candid thoughts on the possibility of Belgo-Albanian Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj playing for England have caused an immediate stir.
His frankness has reignited the debate over international eligibility in the wake of Januzaj's two-goal display at Sunderland on Saturday.
England Internationals Born Overseas
Soccer - World Cup Italia 90 - Group F - England v Holland(01 of11)
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John Barnes, England (credit:PA)
(02 of11)
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Sport. Football. pic: circa 1984. Brian Stein, England and (Luton Town) who won 1 England international cap in 1984.
Soccer - Friendly - England v USSR(03 of11)
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Luther Blissett, England (credit:PA)
Soccer - World Cup Italia 90 - Semi Final - West Germany v England (04 of11)
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Terry Butcher leads out England against West Germany (credit:PA)
WORLD CUP QUALIFIER SOCCER(05 of11)
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L-R MARC OVERMARS, NETHERLANDS. TONY DORIGO, ENGLAND (credit:PA)
Soccer - International Friendly - England v Greece - Old Trafford(06 of11)
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Owen Hargreaves, England (credit:PA)
England U21 v France U21(07 of11)
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NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 31: Fabrice Muamba of England during the Friendly International match between England U21 and France U21 at the City Ground on March 31, 2009 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
England U21 v France U21(08 of11)
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NOTTINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 31: Nedum Onuoha of England during the Friendly International match between England U21 and France U21 at the City Ground on March 31, 2009 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sweden v England - International Friendly(09 of11)
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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 14: Raheem Sterling in action during the international friendly match between Sweden and England at the Friends Arena on November 14, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sweden v England - International Friendly(10 of11)
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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - NOVEMBER 14: Wilfried Zaha of England in action during the international friendly match between Sweden and England at the Friends Arena on November 14, 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
England U21v Moldova U21 - 2015 UEFA European U21 Championships Qualifier(11 of11)
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READING, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 05: Saido Beranhino of England during the 2015 UEFA European U21 Championships Qualifier between England U21 and Moldova U21 at The Madejski Stadium on September 05, 2013 in Reading, England, (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Januzaj cannot play for England until 2018 at the earliest, when he will be 23, and that is providing he is still a United - or Premier League - player.
Irrespective of whether Januzaj is open to the Football Association's invite, Wilshere has been accused of casual xenophobia by some fans, and although many agree with him plenty of others disagree.
A number of notable England players born abroad have played for the national side.
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Wilshere's comments have sparked the debate over international eligibility
Players born in countries as diverse as Australia, the Ivory Coast, Jamaica, India, Sierra Leone and Sri Lanka have worn the Three Lions.
Five of England's 17-man winter Ashes squad were also born outside of the United Kingdom.