ENGLAND are gearing up for their 1,000th international match when they play Montenegro on Thursday.

And it's not been the easiest of time for boss Gareth Southgate as the Raheem Sterling-Joe Gomez row rumbles on.

But he might have felt a little happier if he had got to pick these names in his team.

SunSport has picked a star-studded XI of the strangest/funniest/bizarre named England players of all time.

And in a bid to excite the crowds, it's an ultra-attacking line-up.

In goal we have Albemarle Swepstone. He played six times for England between 1880 and 1883 and was nicknamed the "Little Pilgrim".

ALL-OUT ATTACK

We have gone with three centre-halves, Percy de Paravicini, Elphinstone Jackson and Pelham George von Donhop.

De Paravicini was born in 1862, the son of a baron, and made three appearances for England.

Jackson was actually born in India in 1868, and after winning one England cap he ended up returning to the country of his birth where he helped set up the Indian Football Association.

Herod Ruddlesdin is playing the defensive midfield role in a four. He made three appearances for the national team making most of his club appearances for The Wednesday.

Attacking midfield is Walpole Vidal who played in the first ever international football match in 1870.

BASTARD LEADING THE LINE

Left wing is Harry Daft – he made five England appearances between 1889 and 1892 and was also a first-class cricketer.

On the right is Thelwell Pike. His sole appearance came in 1886 but we'd like to think he would be able to wriggle out of danger just like the fish.

Then we have the terrific trio of Segar Bastard, Syd Puddefoot and Jack Cock.

Bastard made one England appearance in 1880 before becoming a referee. Like many in his time, he also played cricket, for Essex and Marylebone.

Puddefoot played most of his club career for West Ham and Blackburn and bagged two England caps between 1925-26.

He also coached at Turkish clubs Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, as well as Northampton Town.

And finally Cock, who became the first Cornishman to play for the England national side in 1919.

He was also a serving soldier and went on to become an actor.

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