Ryan Bertrand could be handed a first England cap since 2012 tonight – as he and Nathaniel Clyne prepare for the possibility of facing Saints teammate Graziano Pelle.

England, fresh from their 4-0 win over Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier last Friday, have travelled to Turin for a friendly against Italy (7.45pm).

Bertrand is among the group, having been called up over the weekend to boost the left-back numbers in the squad.

Manager Roy Hodgson has lost Luke Shaw and Danny Rose to injury, while he has also allowed his first choice, Leighton Baines, to return to Everton.

That leaves Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs and Bertrand as the two left-sided full-backs in the squad, meaning the Saints defender tonight has a realistic chance of earning a third senior cap.

Bertrand has not played for his country since September 2012, when he featured in a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against Ukraine, at Wembley.

His debut for England came, coincidentally, in a friendly away to Italy earlier in the same year.

Clyne, who has established himself as England’s number-one right-back, played the full game against Lithuania and it would be no surprise if he played at least some part tonight.

That throws up the prospect of the Saints duo coming up against Pelle.

The striker is in the Italy squad, although he did not make it off the bench in Saturday’s 2-2 draw away to Bulgaria in a Euro 2016 qualifier.

Coach Antonio Conte may use tonight’s friendly as a chance to take another look at the forward, though.

Pelle has only scored once at club level since the turn of the year, in a 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace in January, with his last Premier League goal coming on December 20, in a 3-0 win over Everton.

But he will be hoping a run out for his country will help spark a return to form.

Pelle made his senior debut for Italy earlier this season, scoring on his first appearance, in a 1-0 qualifying win away to Malta, in October.

He also came off the bench in November’s 1-1 home draw against Croatia.