Switzerland vs England: Fabian Delph brags about no longer getting booked - then picks up yellow card nine minutes into England debut

The midfielder went through a phase of ill-discipline with Aston Villa last season that saw him regularly booked

Fabian Delph (Getty Images)

Just last week, Fabian Delph was bragging that he had moved past his habit of picking up yellow cards after a sustained period last season of booking-after-booking. So what happened when the Aston Villa midfielder made his England debut against Switzerland on Monday night?

You guessed it. He was booked after just nine minutes and could easily have been sent-off.

A rash challenge after six minutes saw referee Cüneyt Çakır resist the urge to book the 24-year-old, but he was given no choice just three minutes later as Delph covered the St-Jacob Park pitch like a headless chicken.

The booking was made all the more comical – Roy Hodgson won’t have been laughing – given Delph’s comments last week that he no longer picks up yellow cards following his ill-discipline at Villa last season. His record of eight yellow cards in the space of 17 matches was certainly not one to be proud of.

“I don’t get yellow cards any more – can you believe that? – but if you are fit enough and strong enough you can get to the ball and you don’t have to go to ground,” Delph said.

Luckily for England’s newest international, he soon calmed down, and perhaps the usual hot-head that is Wayne Rooney used his new responsibility as England captain to give Delph a word of advice and ease him into his international debut.

Whatever happened, it certainly worked, as Delph overcame a nervy first 20 minutes to put in an impressive performance as England went on to record a 2-0 victory thanks to a Danny Welbeck brace.

Delph brought a sense of control – once he’d regained his head – to the England midfield and helped keep the ball when chances were limited, something that England have struggled to do in recent years. He also looked eager to make his mark on the game, providing an energy that appeared to spur on those around him, and he linked well with Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson in a three-man midfield.

His performance will certainly give Hodgson a question to ponder, as Delph may have missed out on the England squad altogether had Ross Barkley been available for selection. When the Everton midfielder returns to fitness, either Delph or Newcastle’s Jack Colback is likely to miss out, although Delph appears to seized his chance to shine ahead of next month’s 2016 European Championship qualifier against San Marino.