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| Key figure: Andy Carroll, right, moves away from Scott Parker during England training and is now the man most likely to lead the attack at Euro 2012 |
Andy Carroll is the leading candidate to spearhead England’s attack at Euro
2012 after Danny Welbeck limped out of training at the Etihad Stadium on
Thursday.
Welbeck has been struggling with an ankle problem and was unable to join in a
practice match dominated by Carroll.
Wayne
Rooney returns from suspension for England's
third game of the tournament, against Ukraine, but Roy Hodgson must find the
right centre forward against France and Sweden.
Carroll’s strong end to the season, particularly his bullying of John Terry at
Wembley and Anfield, has been noted by Hodgson.
Carroll’s stellar performance in training at the Etihad on Thursday was
unmissable for England’s coaching staff as Gary Neville, filling in as an
emergency centre-back, was trying to mark him.
Carroll’s strengths are well known to Hodgson’s captain, Steven Gerrard, who
is expected to operate in an advanced midfield position during the Euros.
Carroll bulldozed through Joleon Lescott in reaching a cross from Ashley
Young. “Andy Carroll is a threat in any game,’’ said Lescott. “It’s nice to
see him getting the media coverage and the high praise he deserves over the
last few weeks of the season.
"I’m sure his confidence is high going into the tournament. Andy’s always a handful to play against but when his confidence is high it’s even worse.
“He has great ability, it’s not just in the air. International football is not just about that aerial threat but not many teams have that presence in the air and he brings that to the squad.
"He’s had a good finish, been called into the squad for a major tournament so if his confidence is not high for something like this, there’s not a lot it will be high for. So you’d like to think after his last couple of games and getting called up, this is the best he’s felt about himself.”
Welbeck started training but soon moved to the sidelines for a low-key workout and then headed down the tunnel.
“Obviously Danny hurt his ankle and did it against us,’’ added Lescott of the Manchester United striker’s injury in the derby match.
“I am not sure how far he is away from playing or training. If he picks Andy, Jermain [Defoe], obviously they are all international players, they are in the squad for a reason and they can cause a different threat.”
If Welbeck’s ankle fails to improve, Hodgson has until Tuesday to replace him, most probably with Daniel Sturridge, who is on the standby list. Three other members of the standby list, Phil Jagielka, Martin Kelly and Jordan Henderson, were involved in training onb Thursday.
Henderson has been drafted in as fears remain over Scott Parker’s Achilles. The Spurs man trained on Thursday but if he struggles against Norway on Saturday, then Henderson may travel to the Euros unless Hodgson decides on making another call to Michael Carrick.
Jagielka’s presence at centre-half alongside Lescott was explained by the absence of Chelsea’s John Terry and Gary Cahill, who have been given a break after the Champions League.
Jagielka may even start in Oslo in a team that could line up: Hart or Green; Jones, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines; Parker, Barry; Young, Gerrard, Walcott; Carroll. Hodgson can make six substitutes.
Glen Johnson’s infected toe continues to be a concern for Hodgson and his medical staff, meaning Phil Jones’s deployment at right-back and Kelly’s call as cover. City’s Micah Richards must wonder what he has done wrong.
“I am very close to him and he was disappointed but all decisions are tough to make,’’ added Lescott. “Micah is very professional and you can see from his performances with City that even if he is not playing one game the next game he is giving 100 per cent.”
England return from Norway after Saturday’s game with the players given a break until Tuesday. They gather at the Grove for training at Colney and Wembley before the June 2 friendly with Belgium at Wembley when goal-line technology will be tested.
If there are any close calls only the experts monitoring the Hawk-Eye system will know the results.
The referee will not be informed. Another system, called GoalRef, is being tested in the Danish Super League. If the tests are successful, the go-ahead for technology is expected to be given by Fifa on July 2.
"I’m sure his confidence is high going into the tournament. Andy’s always a handful to play against but when his confidence is high it’s even worse.
“He has great ability, it’s not just in the air. International football is not just about that aerial threat but not many teams have that presence in the air and he brings that to the squad.
"He’s had a good finish, been called into the squad for a major tournament so if his confidence is not high for something like this, there’s not a lot it will be high for. So you’d like to think after his last couple of games and getting called up, this is the best he’s felt about himself.”
Welbeck started training but soon moved to the sidelines for a low-key workout and then headed down the tunnel.
“Obviously Danny hurt his ankle and did it against us,’’ added Lescott of the Manchester United striker’s injury in the derby match.
“I am not sure how far he is away from playing or training. If he picks Andy, Jermain [Defoe], obviously they are all international players, they are in the squad for a reason and they can cause a different threat.”
If Welbeck’s ankle fails to improve, Hodgson has until Tuesday to replace him, most probably with Daniel Sturridge, who is on the standby list. Three other members of the standby list, Phil Jagielka, Martin Kelly and Jordan Henderson, were involved in training onb Thursday.
Henderson has been drafted in as fears remain over Scott Parker’s Achilles. The Spurs man trained on Thursday but if he struggles against Norway on Saturday, then Henderson may travel to the Euros unless Hodgson decides on making another call to Michael Carrick.
Jagielka’s presence at centre-half alongside Lescott was explained by the absence of Chelsea’s John Terry and Gary Cahill, who have been given a break after the Champions League.
Jagielka may even start in Oslo in a team that could line up: Hart or Green; Jones, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines; Parker, Barry; Young, Gerrard, Walcott; Carroll. Hodgson can make six substitutes.
Glen Johnson’s infected toe continues to be a concern for Hodgson and his medical staff, meaning Phil Jones’s deployment at right-back and Kelly’s call as cover. City’s Micah Richards must wonder what he has done wrong.
“I am very close to him and he was disappointed but all decisions are tough to make,’’ added Lescott. “Micah is very professional and you can see from his performances with City that even if he is not playing one game the next game he is giving 100 per cent.”
England return from Norway after Saturday’s game with the players given a break until Tuesday. They gather at the Grove for training at Colney and Wembley before the June 2 friendly with Belgium at Wembley when goal-line technology will be tested.
If there are any close calls only the experts monitoring the Hawk-Eye system will know the results.
The referee will not be informed. Another system, called GoalRef, is being tested in the Danish Super League. If the tests are successful, the go-ahead for technology is expected to be given by Fifa on July 2.
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