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It's an important month in international football. With the qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in their final stages, the race for the Qatar showpiece has gained momentum.
Besides the hosts, Germany and Denmark are the only other teams to have qualified for the quadrennial tournament. However, over the next few days, more spots will start filling up, so the pressure is really on.
Yet, many big-name players won't be in action this week, as they have been overlooked by their respective national teams.
On that note, here's a look at the most valuable XI not to have been called up to international duty in November 2021. A 4-2-3-1 has been considered for this hypothetical XI.
Note: All market values are as per Transfermarkt.
Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson (England) - €22 million
He was long touted as David De Gea's heir, but he is now on the brink of an exit from Manchester United, Dean Henderson's career has seen some incredible lows in the last few months.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continuing to pin his faith in De Gea, the 24-year-old Henderson hasn't made a single appearance in the Premier League this season. That has led him to getting overlooked for England's national team too.
His first and only appearance for the Three Lions came exactly a year ago. The former Sheffield United custodian came on at half-time for Nick Pope in a friendly against Ireland last November.
The rise of Aaron Ramsdale has heated up the competition for England's starting spot. Now it looks like a move away from Old Trafford is the only way for Henderson to revive his club and international career.
Right-back: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (England) - €40 million
Manchester United have gone through the motions this season, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka has quietly impressed with his defensive prowess. But it's his lack of attacking firepower that has been left wanting.
He cannot build up plays and kickstart attacks like modern full-backs. He rarely makes incisive passes or whipping crosses into the box, and the last time he scored was in February.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker are in incredible form right now. So it has become impossible for a more conservative player like Wan-Bissaka to break into England's XI at the moment.
Centre-back: Fikayo Tomori (England) - €40 million
Wan-Bissaka may not be a surprise exclusion after all, but Fikayo Tomori certainly is. The youngster is having an excellent campaign for AC Milan in Serie A, but he has still been overlooked by Gareth Southgate.
The 23-year-old has become a mainstay at the heart of the Rossoneri's backline, playing every minute in their unbeaten domestic run so far. The strides he has made since moving abroad have been too huge to ignore.
Centre-back: Ben White (England) - €40 million
Following a wretched start to his 2021-22 campaign, Arsenal have turned things around in style. They have now gone eight games unbeaten, and have climbed into the top five places in the league, above Manchester United.
Ben White's intelligence, pace and ability on the ball has been a key factor in Arsenal's surge. The 24-year-old has forging an exciting defensive partnership with Gabriel, but that wasn't enough to impress Gareth Southgate.
Left-back: Ferland Mendy (France) - €40 million
Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior have garnered all the plaudits for Real Madrid's flying start under the returning Carlo Ancelotti. But many others have been impressive too, including Ferland Mendy.
The 26-year-old brings a lot of stability to Los Blancos, and is a key ball-carrier too. But Theo Hernandez and Lucas Hernandez being two of the best attacking full-backs in the game now. So Mendy will have to bide his time to earn a France call-up.
Defensive Midfielder: Fabian Ruiz (Spain) - €45 million
An underrated operator in Napoli's swashbuckling team, Fabian Ruiz has started every game of their unbeaten domestic campaign. He has contributed five goals (scoring thrice, assisting twice).
The Partenopei has raced to ten wins from their opening 12 games in their Serie A campaign. The Spaniard's vision, passing and ball control have been key to their blistering start.
Yet it's odd that Luis Enrique didn't feel compelled to reward the star with a national team call-up for his rich vein of form.
Defensive Midfielder: Tanguy Ndombele (France) - €45 million
Tottenham Hotspur are having a torrid campaign on all fronts. So new manager Antonio Conte has a huge task on his hands, which includes reviving some players, such as Tanguy Ndombele.
A talented young prospect with the potential to become a star, Ndombele has been far too inconsistent. He hasn't helped much with the team's lack of creativity, and is running out of time to prove himself.
Right Winger: Mason Greenwood (England) - €50 million
England's squad is stacked with attacking talent, but that isn't why Mason Greenwood hasn't been called up. Southgate has revealed that he's in agreement with the Manchester United star to leave him out until 2022 to maintain consistency in the side.
Otherwise, Greenwood has been solid this season, scoring four times in ten league games. Although the 20-year-old has only one England cap under his belt, Southgate believes he still has enough time to make a breakthrough.
Attacking Midfielder: James Maddison (England) - €50 million
James Maddison struggled to find his best form early on in the 2021-22 season, but he has recaptured his mojo lately. He scored the winner against Brentford last month. He also teed up Patson Daka for the winner against Spartak Moscow in the Europa League.
A naturally gifted creator with an eye for pass, the 24-year-old is a potent threat on the ball. But he will have to maintain this form for an extended period of time to earn a spot in England's set-up.
Left Winger: Jadon Sancho (England) - €90 million
Arguably the biggest star to be ostracised from England's squad, Jadon Sancho perhaps knew it was coming. That's because his transfer to Manchester United hasn't gone according to plan thus far.
He has struggled to replicate his Borussia Dortmund form, failing to score or assist even once in 13 games this season. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's rigid tactics are also to blame for that, though.
Striker: Richarlison (Brazil) - €55 million
We round up with the only non-European player on the list. Richarlison is set to miss Brazil games for the third consecutive month.
Everton refused to release him in September, while last month he was out with a knee injury. Now, he was not deemed fit enough to feature. Indeed, his form with The Toffees is enough to suggest he won't be a big miss. The striker has scored only twice in seven league games this season.
