Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has predicted Fabio Capello will adopt a ruthless approach to his stint as England manager.
Capello officially succeeds Steve McClaren on Monday but the Italian's work has already begun.
After spending the festive period keeping abreast of a packed Premier League programme, Capello was at Villa Park this afternoon for Aston Villa's FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester United.
Capello will then head to Kenilworth Road to watch Liverpool tackle Luton tomorrow, before taking in both Carling Cup semi-finals next week.
By that time, he will have seen a vast majority of the players likely to be in his squad for his first match in charge, against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6.
Already it has been suggested Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor can look forward to his first international exposure, with Newcastle's veteran midfielder Nicky Butt also in line for a surprise recall if some reports are to be believed.
Certainly, there is no suggestion Capello will have any favourites, as both McClaren and his predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson were perceived to have.
And, with David Beckham due to be reinstalled as captain against the Swiss, when the former Manchester United man will win his 100th cap, even Capello's choice of on-field leader is open to debate.
No matter what decision the 61-year-old eventually reaches, Wenger is certain sentiment will play no part in it.
"Capello will do the job seriously," said Wenger.
"He will bring his experience and winning desire to the job. But he will also be ruthless.
"He is a winner and he will do the job in a straightforward way."
While the debate over the need to hire a non-Englishman for the top coaching job continues to rage, with former skipper Tony Adams among the most vocal defenders of 'home' talent, Capello's appointment has already had a positive impact at Soho Square.
Senior Football Association officials have likened the present feel-good factor to that which Sven-Goran Eriksson brought with him in 2001, only this time Capello's CV is far more extensive.
Ticket sales for the Switzerland game have now passed beyond the 60,000 mark, far more than would have been anticipated by this stage if McClaren had remained in charge and Capello's first squad announcement is eagerly anticipated.
Before that, he will chat with Sir Trevor Brooking over a strategy for the World Cup fixtures meeting in Zagreb on January 14, when a path will be thrashed out that hopefully leads to South Africa in 2010.
Wenger has enough knowledge of the English game to know Capello has the players to achieve that rather conservative aim.
However, notably in the goalkeeping and striking departments, there is a dearth of quality.
"You have the players," said Wenger.
"OK, there are two or three positions that are too weak but there are others where England competes with the best in the world."
How long Beckham remains around is a subject of debate.
By the time England begin their World Cup campaign - in a group that includes Croatia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra - Beckham will be 33 and almost at the end of his second season in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles Galaxy.
Beckham is certainly starting the Capello era in a positive manner, pushing himself in a month of voluntary training with Arsenal that Wenger is happy to assist.
"David is not fit yet but he will get physically fit," said the Frenchman.
"He has a special regime run by our fitness coaches, so if he can pay us back by giving advice to our young players that would be great."
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