CAN you name the last player of a North-East club to earn an England cap? It was brief and quite some time ago, so the chances are slim of the answer being on the tip of your tongue.

The date, if you want a clue, was February 29, 2012. Just minutes before his ten-minute cameo at the end of the second half of England’s 3-2 defeat to Holland at Wembley, the international rookie also became a dad.

That was Fraizer Campbell’s one and only appearance for England’s senior team having returned to form and fitness in style with Sunderland after an 18-month injury lay-off. Sunderland, nor Newcastle nor Middlesbrough for that matter, have not seen one of their players perform for England since.

And if that is not staggering enough, it will be four years next month since a North-East based player actually started a game for England – and that night the region actually had two!

Forty-six internationals on from when Sunderland’s Jordan Henderson and Newcastle’s Andy Carroll played in the 2-1 defeat to France at Wembley and it is easy to opine that there is a greater chance of the half century being chalked up than there is of that run coming to an end.

Fabio Capello was the man in charge back then and Roy Hodgson – criticised for not visiting the region’s grounds during his reign - has shown a real reluctance to include a North-East based player, although he does not appear to have had too much to choose from.

Killingworth’s Jack Colback was called up for last month’s double-header with Norway and Switzerland, but had to withdraw through injury and he could find it difficult to force his way back in given Newcastle’s struggles. Adam Johnson and Steven Taylor have been on the bench, once.

The shortage from an area often described as the ‘hot-bed of English football’ is incredible. There have been players born from these parts earning caps like Fraser Forster and Henderson, but when will a player from a North-East club force his way back on to the England stage? Here are eight of those to be in with the strongest chance:

JACK COLBACK

There was an element of surprise when the Magpies midfielder was named in Hodgson’s squad earlier this season. At the age of 24, he has plenty of time to force his way back in. Whether he does or not could well depend on how Newcastle perform – and they need to improve.

JACK RODWELL

Since earning his third England cap against Brazil in June last year, Rodwell has struggled to make inroads towards Hodgson’s squad. His lack of football at Manchester City did not help, but he has failed to hit top form since his summer switch to the Stadium of Light.

If Rodwell, only 23 and a regular at youth level, can show why City paid Everton £12m in August 2012 then he is still one of the likeliest to be called up, particularly given the voids left by Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard’s decisions to retire from the international stage.

CONNOR WICKHAM

He had caught the eye at the back of last season by scoring the goals to keep Sunderland up, but he had not shown that sort of form again until he helped the Black Cats to a win over Stoke ten days ago.

The former Ipswich striker – who is also eligible to play for Ireland - is only 21 and could easily develop in to a powerful international striker. He could easily keep Rickie Lambert and Andy Carroll out of the squad in the long term.

ADAM JOHNSON

Ever since he decided to leave Manchester City in August 2012 to further his international chances, he has struggled to get in to the England squad. Despite a call up to sit on the bench for a 1-1 draw with Poland that October, he has not been around the squad since. He is still a match-winner on his day and a threat to any Premier league defence, but finding greater consistency in a red and white shirt will be the only way Hodgson takes notice of him once more.

LEE CATTERMOLE

The Stockton-born midfielder has curbed his disciplinary problems but retained a tough edge to his play. He has proven his worth to Gustavo Poyet at Sunderland and surely can’t be too far away from a call up to fill the holding midfield role currently occupied by Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph.

ROLANDO AARONS

Once the young Newcastle winger has returned from a hamstring injury, Alan Pardew will hope he can bring an exciting approach to his team’s play again. It earned Aarons an England Under-20s call in September, scoring his first senior goal against Crystal Palace along the way. He also qualifies to play for Jamaica, but England scouts believe he has the potential to become a real star at just 18.

BEN GIBSON

The young Middlesbrough defender has made fantastic progress for the Teessiders and, if Boro go up this season, he could beat anyone else on this list on to the international stage. He is an intelligent defender and is on England Under-21 duty with Gareth Southgate this week.

ADAM REACH

Reach is being considered by Southgate to compete for a place at next summer’s Euro Under-21s Championships after a blistering start to the season. He still has a lot in his game to work on, but with the right attitude – and promotion to the Premier League - the left-winger could follow former Boro left-wingers Johnson and Stewart Downing on to the England stage.