England squad: The players who have gone on loan & earned a call-up
The intention of a loan move is usually to get some minutes under your belt, show your parent club what you can do and ultimately earn a place in the starting lineup or a move away.
However, in recent years several Englishmen have broken that mould, enjoying hugely successful seasons out on loan and getting the call from Gareth Southgate to join up with his Three Lions squad as a result – pretty much the highest recognition possible for your impressive form.
Here are the players to have gone out on loan and broken into the England squad...
5. Conor Gallagher - 2021
Loan club: Crystal Palace
Parent club: Chelsea
England's breakout star of 2021/22.
A member of Chelsea's burgeoning loan army, Conor Gallagher has enjoyed a hugely successful stint at Crystal Palace under the stewardship of legendary Premier League midfielder Patrick Vieira.
The Epsom Essien already has 13 goal involvements for the season and received his first call-up in November after making a fast start to the campaign.
4. Jesse Lingard - 2021
Loan club: West Ham
Parent club: Manchester United
Ironically, it may take another loan - or even a permanent transfer - for Jesse Lingard to earn a recall to the England squad.
Once a regular in the Three Lions set up, the attacking midfielder was forced to leave Old Trafford for West Ham in 2021 to give himself a fighting chance of making the squad for Euro 2020.
Lingard was sublime for the Hammers, scoring nine times and assisting five more in just 16 appearances for the club. That was enough to earn him a place in Southgate's initial roster, but he was eventually cut when the group was trimmed down.
3. Dean Henderson - 2019
Loan club: Sheffield United
Parent club: Manchester United
Another Man Utd player whose career has stalled over the past couple of seasons.
During Sheffield United's successful first season back in the Premier League in 2019/20, Dean Henderson seemed to have all the attributes to usurp Jordan Pickford as England's number one - earning a call-up in 2019 after a fine start to life in the top flight.
Alas, a breakthrough simply hasn't come at club level, with Henderson making just 31 appearances across the two seasons since.
2. Tammy Abraham - 2017
Loan club: Swansea
Parent club: Chelsea
When the hell did Tammy Abraham go on loan and break into the England squad, you ask?
This one may well have slipped your memory, but the striker was called up in November 2017 for friendlies against international giants Germany and Brazil - and he made his debut in a start against the former.
Abraham was on loan at Swansea City in the Premier League at the time, although this call-up was essentially based on his brilliant form at Bristol City the previous season.
1. Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 2017
Loan club: Crystal Palace
Parent club: Chelsea
Another productive loan from Chelsea to Palace.
You do begin to wonder whether things will ever be as good as the 2017/18 season for Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Although the heart-throb midfielder is featuring semi-regularly for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, his standout campaign arguably came at Selhurst Park.
Included in Southgate's squad for the same friendlies as the aforementioned Abraham, Loftus-Cheek starred on his debut against Germany - winning the man of the match award courtesy of a typically marauding display.
His form was so good across the season that he was even included in Southgate's 23 for the 2018 World Cup, where he unexpectedly started two group games en route to the semi-finals.
Honourable mentions to Ben Foster, Chris Kirkland and Scott Carson, who have all been called up in years gone by after various loans - such is the life of a goalkeeper.