Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could force his way in for Liverpool after England goal

It's been a long road back to the England team for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Eighteen months on the international periphery for the Liverpool midfielder, forced to watch the World Cup from his settee instead of being a part of it the summer of fun ever since that horrible knee injury sustained in the Champions League semi-final against Roma in April.

He would miss that final, too, only sharing in the celebrations with his team-mates from the sidelines. Not the heart of it, where he belonged.

The last time he had started for England was in a friendly in Italy the month before.

How hard he had to fight just to get back on to the pitch, let alone into the forefront of Gareth Southgate's mind again.

But through sheer will, hard work, and weight of recent form here was again despite only two Premier League starts to his name all season, and none since September.

He could hardly have wished for a better return.

A momentous night for England, who celebrated their 1000th game in style with a 7-0 victory and even more so for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who sparked England's rout with the team's first goal.

There should have been no surprise either. This was his fifth goal in his last six appearances in all competitions for club and country. He's shown off the full repertoire too.

The 25-yard scuttler into the bottom corner and the first-time, outside-of-the-boot curler against Genk in the Champions League. The long-range rocket on the half-volley against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup. Then the back to goal, quick turn, left-footed drive in the return Genk fixture at Anfield.

Here he was, charging into the box in the right channel, arm raised to catch Ben Chilwell's eye on the opposite flank. The Leicester full-back spotted him, dinked the ball over the Montenegro back line and into Oxlade-Chamberlain's path. One touch to control, another to finish into the far corner.

Of course, there's no profit in looking back, but to see Oxlade-Chamberlain not only in an England starting line-up again but performing like that, it's only natural to feel the pangs of what might have been.