Stoke City: Shawcross still playing waiting game after more bench duty for England

STOKE skipper Ryan Shawcross is now setting his sights on a friendly in Sweden next month for the chance to make his long-awaited senior England debut.

The 25-year-old centre-half was forced to watch from the bench for the second time in five days last night as England snatched a fortunate 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Poland in Warsaw.​

BENCH DUTY: Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross, second left, sat out yesterday's World Cup qualifier in Poland.

Now Shawcross must hope to retain his place in Roy Hodgson's squad for the November 14 trip to Stockholm ... and then hope to finally get on the pitch after three failed attempts now.

To be fair, Shawcross was always an outside chance to win his first cap in a match that proved to be every bit as tense as pundits predicted.

England withstood wave after wave of Polish attacks to snatch an undeserved lead through Wayne Rooney.

And while their back line often looked rocky last night, even Shawcross would have struggled to keep out the 70th-minute equaliser gifted to the Poles by errant goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Nonetheless, a point is a point, and Hodgson believes it could prove vital.

While conceded that the performance was one of England's worst since he took charge in the summer, he said: "I think a point here may be good when the group is decided next October.

"I don't think it was one of our better performances, but we did get the result. It gives me heart that we showed some character."

Meanwhile, Shawcross flew home last night no doubt hoping he doesn't face another two-and-a-half year wait for his next call-up.

It was March 2010 when he first caught the eye for England, but was then an unused sub for a Wembley friendly against Egypt.

And it has to be said competition for places will be tougher when Hodgson selects his next squad.

After being forced to stand in line behind Phil Jagielka, Gary Cahill and Joleon Lescott this week, he will also be up against the likes of Manchester United's fit-again Chris Smalling, and Tottenham's Steven Caulker, who was on England under-21s duty this week.

Meanwhile, Shawcross was due back for training at Clayton Wood today ahead of Stoke's trip to Manchester United on Saturday.