Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert believes that Fabian Delph could be the "surprise" inclusion in England's 2014 World Cup squad.

The midfielder, who is yet to win a senior cap, has enjoyed a strong campaign and is reportedly the leading candidate for Villa's player-of-the-season awards.

Lambert believes that Delph has plenty more to give, but says that he would hold his own if Roy Hodgson did call him up.

"I don't know if he's got a chance, but I always think there's one surprise. If England did call him in and give him a chance he wouldn't let anybody down, but that's up to the England manager to assess," Lambert told the Birmingham Mail.

"He's got his whole career in front of him. I don't think you'll see the best of him until he's in his mid to late 20s.

"He's only a young lad, I think people forget that, and at this moment in time he's playing extremely well for us."

Delph, 24, recently admitted that he was hopeful that he would "one day" receive a call-up to the England senior team.