Wilfried Zaha chose Ivory Coast before approach from Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate

The Three Lions manager, though, remains philosophical about the Crystal Palace man’s U-turn after playing twice for the senior side under Roy Hodgson.

“The Ivory Coast had been talking to him and his family for a long period of time and, obviously, it had been a couple of years that he had been out of the England fold,” said Southgate, who worked with Zaha at Under-21s level. “We hoped to have him as an option for us, but there is nothing we could do about it.”

Zaha’s goal in the 2-0 win over Russia has earned him rave reviews, the wideman having picked the ball up in the left flank before showing phenomenal pace and strength to brush aside three defenders to fire into the roof of the net.

“I don’t think anyone would question Roy for not bringing him in last season,” added Southgate about Zaha, whose two senior caps came in friendlies against Sweden in 2012 and Scotland a year later.

“Last September (under Sam Allardyce) would have been similar, I think. I had three days to pick a squad in October so I was always going to pick players I knew. Then, in November I had the chance to look a little bit further.

“But we had won the game in October and I was pleased with the squad. I saw him (Zaha) at Burnley, when he was okay in the first half and very good in the second.

“But I didn’t really appreciate there was this disappearing egg timer on going to the Ivory Coast – plus, of course, I was interim manager at the time.

“He was the first player I went to see when I got the job permanently, but he’d already made his mind up to go across to the Ivory Coast.

“I went to meet him at Hull, I went to the team hotel (before Palace’s 3-3 draw in December) and we had a good chat because, obviously, he was a player I had picked for the Under-21s.

“But I go back to that it was a really small timescale for me to pick him.

“I didn’t want to pick him just because there was a chance that might happen.”

Zaha, after appearing in the Africa Cup of Nations, may no longer be part of England’s future, but Southgate has reassured Ross Barkley that he very much is.

The Everton midfielder was kept on the bench once again during the friendly defeat to Germany and Sunday’s World Cup qualifying win against Lithuania despite having been on top form recently for his club.

Many observers felt Barkley could have helped England, particularly during their laboured efforts on Sunday at Wembley.

“I had a good chat with Ross (on Saturday) because he will be a bit frustrated not to get on,” added the Three Lions chief. “He is a player that can make things happen around the edge of the penalty area.

“The changes (against Lithuania), I felt we needed to stretch the opposition, and make space for the likes of Dele (Alli) and Adam (Lallana) to play.

“But we like him, he is a talented player and he has just got to keep playing well.

“It has been the first time I have had the chance to work with him since the Under-21s, so it was good for him to get a feel for how we work.”