But the best midfield players mature with age, and Martin has the talent and the experience to become the stylist the rebuilt England side will need in the dual bid for the European Nations Cup in 1976 and the World Cup in Argentina two years later. He has underlined that much as the mastermind of the Burnley side which has re-established itself in the First Division over the past year or so. Any doubts which lingered about Dobson's ability to raise his performance at the highest League level - and, to be honest, they did exist beyond Turf Moor when Burnley were hitting the Second Division high spots in 1972/73 - have long since been banished.

Martin has not only underlined that he can compete with the best midfield players in the business, he has also proved that - unlike many of his rivals for an England place - he has a genuine goal-flair. A versatile soccer apprenticeship, in his early days he operated first as a striker and then as a defender, has helped Dobson shine in his present role. His timing in a tackle enables him to win the ball cleanly: he has quick control which aids his accuracy when it comes to passing or shooting. It has been said that his fault is a tendency to be over-adventurous in putting the emphasis on attack and occasionally neglecting the defensive part of his duties. But even to label that as a �fault� could be questionable when English football has suffered in recent years from an overdose of safety-first tactics.

There must be a few red faces at Burnden Park, home of Burnley's county rivals Bolton Wanderers, now that Dobson has emerged as a First Division star. Bolton gave Martin a free transfer when he was seventeen, an error of similar proportion to the earlier decision by the same club to release Alan Ball.

Dobson had been a prolific scorer of goals as a schoolboy in his native Clitheroe, so perhaps Bolton expected too much too soon after signing him as a professional. Whatever the reason, they showed him the door after a single season in which he failed to develop into the kind of tearaway striker they had anticipated.

Burnley promptly offered Martin terms, and within four months he was in their League side. And at Turf Moor they were more patient in finding Dobson's true position. He operated for a spell in defence, winning that solitary England Under-23 honour as a centre-half, but it was only a short-term measure in a club crisis. And, in due course, Martin was given the freedom and scope of a midfield role. Dobson is an elegant footballer, beautifully balanced and with the bonus of finishing power which paid a particularly valuable dividend of eleven goals in Burnley's promotion season.

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