The battle  a place at the World Cup is on… but these forgotten men must move in January or be left behind. So where next for Mata, Lamela, Cole, Ramirez and Co?

By Adam Shergold11:18 07 Jan 2014, updated 13:18 07 Jan 201Google Plus

There are just 155 days left until hosts Brazil and Croatia kick-off the 2014 World Cup finals in Sao Paulo.

And for dozens of players, that means just 155 days to set out a convincing argument to their national team managers that they should be on the plane to Brazil.

For those on the borderline of selection but starved of regular match action, it could mean taking a leap of faith and pushing for a move this month.

Here’s our top 10 of players who need a chance of scenery to boost their World Cup hopes.

JUAN MATA (Chelsea and Spain)

Not a day goes by at the moment without a fresh rumour Juan Mata is on his way out of Chelsea.

Judging by the number of times he has started on the bench this season, Jose Mourinho clearly believes the Spaniard is surplus to requirements.

Last week, Mourinho claimed that leaving the brilliant playmaker on the bench was ‘hurting’ him, but that doesn’t stop him keeping Mata out in the cold.

It’s very bad news for Mata’s hopes of getting in to a Spain squad bursting at the seams with class and he must want to escape, preferably back to La Liga.

The only full 90 minutes Mata played for Spain last year was against Equatorial Guinea – so Vicente del Bosque clearly isn’t convinced.

In order to have a chance of fitting into the defending champions’ midfield, Mata simply must engineer a move as quickly as possible.

ERIK LAMELA (Tottenham and Argentina)

Burdened with a £30million price tag and high expectations, Lamela’s start to life in the Premier League has been very underwhelming.

The young forward has struggled to adapt to the English game and former manager Andre Villas-Boas quickly relegated him to the bench.

Unfortunately, his prospects under Tim Sherwood don’t appear to be any brighter and a loan move back to Serie A now looks likely.

It would be a good move for Lamela as he tries to convince Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella to reserve him a place in his squad.

Lamela has six caps for his country, but recent outings have been restricted to bit-part appearances in friendlies.

In order to make the next step, he must secure regular first team football in a country and environment he’s more comfortable with.

GASTON RAMIREZ (Southampton and Uruguay)

When Uruguayan Ramirez arrived on the south coast from Bologna for £12million back in the summer of 2012, he was the star player Nigel Adkins wanted to build his team around.

Unfortunately, Mauricio Pochettino didn’t share that view, leaving the playmaker all-too-often warming the bench.

It wasn’t until the visit of Chelsea on New Year’s Day that he got a starting place in a Premier League match – a catastrophe in a World Cup year.

The inactivity has had a knock-on effect on his international career, and he started on the bench in both legs of Uruguay’s World Cup play-off with Jordan.

With Uruguay set to be one of the dark horses at World Cup – and remember they’re in England’s group – Ramirez should escape back to Italy to get some game time and regain his place.

MICHAEL ESSIEN (Chelsea and Ghana)

Essien was a stalwart of the Chelsea side during Jose Mourinho’s first spell and the pair have a great mutual respect – but that’s not enough for the Ghanaian to get a game these days.

He has featured in just four Premier League matches this season and was omitted from the Champions League squad entirely.

Quite simply, there’s just too much competition in that Chelsea midfield and Essien is way down the pecking order.

The 31-year-old has 52 caps for his country and played in both legs of their World Cup play-off with Egypt.

But he risks going to Brazil without any match practice unless he can get away from Stamford Bridge.

His loan to Real Madrid last season was a success and a similar move would do him the world of good now.

ASHLEY COLE (England and Chelsea)

A world-class player for a decade, Cole suddenly finds himself out of favour for both club and country.

He will fancy a last World Cup, and he’s almost certain to be selected by Roy Hodgson, but will he actually play?

Not on current evidence. For England, he had been overtaken by Leighton Baines – who is younger and a better crosser of the ball – as first choice left back.

And at Chelsea, Mourinho has consigned Cole to the bench, as Cesar Azpilicueta has been shifted across the defence.

There have even been rumours that Cole is contemplating retirement at the end of the season, but will he want to end on such a low note?

FABIO QUAGLIARELLA (Italy and Juventus)

Now 30, Quagliarella is at a bit of crossroads in his career. Behind Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente at Juventus, the striker’s appearances have been restricted to 10 minute bursts and it’s not aiding his chances of adding to his 25 Italy caps.

In fairness, it’s been a while since Quagliarella was involved with the Azzurri but you feel regular football and regular goals might convince Cesare Prandelli to give him another chance.

He’s been linked with a move to Tottenham as a replacement for Jermain Defoe and it looks like a shrewd move.

JULIO CESAR (Brazil and QPR)

Ill fortune has struck Brazil’s first choice goalkeeper at just the wrong time. Nobody in Scolari’s player pool has the experience of Cesar but he’s just not playing for his club.

A definite second fiddle to Rob Green at Queens Park Rangers, Cesar suffered the indignity of conceding four to Everton when he was finally given the gloves in Saturday’s FA Cup tie.

He’ll certainly go to the World Cup but will he be in tip-top form? Unlikely unless he secures a transfer this month.

KEVIN DE BRUYNE (Belgium and Chelsea)

Things haven’t quite worked out for talented Belgian playmaker De Bruyne at Stamford Bridge as he tries to win a place in a position Chelsea are particularly strong in.

He hasn’t played in a Premier League match since September and Champions League action has come late on from the bench.

It seems pretty much certain he’ll be on his way this month, with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg leading the chase.

De Bruyne enjoyed a successful loan spell with Werder Bremen last year and seems at home in the Bundesliga, so the move will be beneficial as he aims to get into the Belgium starting line-up.

LUIS FABIANO (Brazil and Sao Paulo)

Playing for your country in a home World Cup is the ultimate for any player, and there are plenty of Brazilians on the fringes of Luis Felipe Scolari’s squad who’ll want to impress and earn a late call-up.

Two examples of those who formerly played in Europe but are now back home are Luis Fabiano and Alexandre Pato, at Sao Paulo and Corinthians respectively.

Although at different stages of their careers, both have the potential to be prolific goalscorers and an asset to the Brazil team.

However, the vast majority of the squad play in Europe, where the leagues enjoy a higher profile and a loan move back there for the next few months and a few well-documented goals wouldn’t hurt.

We heard that Arsenal are looking for a striker on loan.

FABIO BORINI (Italy and Sunderland on loan from Liverpool)

Fabio Borini rarely scores, but he certainly picks his games when he does.

His two goals for Sunderland this season came in the Tyne-Wear derby win over Newcastle and the Capital One Cup quarter-final victory against Chelsea.

But such a measly return on a loan spell designed to build his confidence isn’t going to get him into World Cup contention.

You sense it might be better if Borini, who has scored just twice in the Premier League, gets a more suitable loan move – maybe to Italy.