Owen Coyle does not believe Kevin Davies deserves to end his career without winning an international cap.
In the aftermath of his outstanding performance in Saturday's win at West Ham, the 33-year-old admitted he has given up hope of ever wearing the Three Lions on his chest.
For a player who snubbed the chance of international honours with Scotland, so committed was he to the idea of playing for England, it is a hard situation to deal with.
On a couple of occasions last term he was selected in Fabio Capello's expanded squad before being omitted when the Italian selected his preferred 23.
But Coyle, who only made a single appearance for the Republic of Ireland in 1994, thinks England are the ones who have missed out.
"There is no doubt, within his career, there have been spells when he should have played," said the Bolton boss.
"He is a real number nine, a throwback to the old fashioned-type of centre-forward that we all love watching.
"He is a real leader and a big player in any team.
"If he had ever been allowed the opportunity, he would have represented his country with real aplomb and the English nation would have been proud to have had him in that shirt."
