Moyes believes Osman’s profile has benefited from Everton’s fine start to the campaign, with the Goodison outfit sitting in fourth place on 17 points after 10 games.

“I think a lot depends on how you’re club side is doing,” he said. “If they are doing well then it improves your chances of getting into the international team.

“Ossie will help make England play, he will try to make passes and get people on the ball and maybe England are looking for players who can do that.”

Everton will once again be without injured triumvirate Darron Gibson, Tony Hibbert and Victor Anichebe for the visit of Sunderland.

Gibson, sidelined since September 1, continues to recover from a thigh problem, while Hibbert – who has not played in almost two months – will undergo further scans after suffering a recurrence of a calf strain during training.

And Anichebe could be ruled out for a month after pulling his hamstring during the under-21s win at West Bromwich Albion last Sunday.

“Hibbo has been back in training but he suffered a recurrence of his calf problem, so we are going to get him checked again,” said Moyes.

“Gibbo has been coming on, as I’ve been saying for a while, but Victor pulled his hamstring in a reserve game last weekend and looks like he will be out for four weeks.”