IF Sepp Blatter ever does manage to force his controversial '6+5' ruling through the European courts, there's one English Premier League (EPL) team that will already be geared up for the new era.

Harry Redknapp's Anglo-centric recruitment policy has seen Portsmouth slowly morphing into the England team.

And, with Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe leading the line, that's not actually as bad as it sounds.

Yesterday saw reports suggesting that Shaun Wright-Phillips was considering a move to the south coast and so, if all goes according to plan this summer, there could be six England internationals in the first XI at Fratton Park.

It's as if Redknapp has lost patience with the FA's refusal to appoint him as the national manager, and he's just decided to try and reproduce a version of the England national team in the EPL itself.

It's worth remembering that Portsmouth were deep in the relegation zone as recently as April 2006, but in just over two extraordinary years, they've soared into the upper reaches of the table, secured European football and even picked up an FA Cup along the way.

They have their own Russian billionaire in Alexandre Gaydamak, whose low profile and deep pockets have fuelled the journey without causing conflict.

The only question now is: How far can they go?

An awful lot depends on their remaining signings.

Already, their defence ranks up there with any of their immediate rivals.

Not even the EPL's 'Big Four' enjoy having to face Sylvain Distin and Sol Campbell, and David James hasn't been voted as Portsmouth's Player of the Year twice in succession for his outlandish haircuts.

If Wright-Phillips brings his pace and work-rate onto the right flank to complement Niko Kranjcar, Lassana Diarra and Sulley Muntari's talents, then they will have a midfield packed full of skill and guile.

But it's the front-line that makes the mouth water.

Crouch is one of the most intelligent strikers in the game, able to nod the ball into a dangerous position time and time again.

No one is better at pouncing onto half-chances than Defoe and, though his positioning is abysmal at times, he has the perfect incentive to improve now that he has a strike partner from heaven.

Both weren't able to secure a starting place at their previous clubs, but just watch them go now that they have a chance of regular football.

APPEALING

Of course, as anyone who has watched England play football in the last two years will tell you, a British passport and high wages doesn't necessarily mean qualification for the big tournaments, but there's still something very appealing about the way this team is being put together.

The spirit in the side is bound to be good, though that's never been a problem under Redknapp, and there's surely going to be a knock-on effect for the England team as national manager Fabio Capello sees his fringe players in action regularly.

Rightly or wrongly, the majority of English football fans list 'too many foreigners' as one of their main grievances in modern day football.

It's not the overseas stars that bother them because everyone wants to watch Fernando Torres and his ilk.

It's the average players who clog up the first team.

Look out for a surge in neutral support as Portsmouth become every Englishman's 'second team', and make sure you listen for the chant of 'England' at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth fans just cannot wait for the new season to begin.