Sam Allardyce has revealed that England were considering a surprise call-up for Steven Nzonzi before Fifa blocked the move.

Nzonzi was a serious option for Allardyce after the Sevilla midfielder contacted the Football Association to make himself available for international duty.

The 27-year-old was born in France but completed more than five years’ residency in the United Kingdom after spells with Blackburn Rovers – where he was signed by Allardyce in 2009 – and Stoke City. And with Allardyce identifying the lack of defensive midfielders as a weakness in his new squad, England explored the possibility of Nzonzi’s eligibility by taking the matter to Fifa.