The cricketer Mike Atherton once returned to the dressing room at Lancashire to find the letters 'FEC' scrawled on his locker. The message was clear. Future England Captain.
For Eddie Howe at Bournemouth there has been nothing so gauche to indicate that he may one day be the people's choice to manage his country's football team. For the 37–year-old, it is those old fashioned indicators of results and reputation that appear to point the way.
It didn't happen this summer and an hour in Howe's company this week fostered the impression that he is glad of it.