Jonjo Shelvey says England are 'crying out' for a midfielder like him but fears his face no longer fits in a 'fickle' age where image can trump ability.
To that end, the Newcastle playmaker continues to protest his innocence over the verdict of an FA panel who last year found him guilty of racially abusing Wolves player Romain Saiss.
Shelvey was banned for five matches and fined £100,000 after it was claimed he called the Moroccan a 'smelly Arab'.
The 25-year-old has kept quiet on the controversy until now and hopes negative headlines have not prevented him from adding to his six England caps.