It's not so long ago that footballers in England dreading leaving their club environment to join up with a disparate group of peers, often pursuing their own agenda, to play for a failing national team where the spotlight was particularly harsh.
The transformation in the mood around the England squad is a credit to Gareth Southgate and players seem to genuinely look forward to meeting up against at St George's Park at the moment.
Ahead of the friendly with Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday the England manager had said that this international break was an opportune moment for players to meet up again, escaping the pressures of their clubs ahead of what for many is going to be a pivotal run-in to the end of the season.
