England Striker Auditions

Barring injury, Wayne Rooney is a 1/33 (Blue Square) certainty to make England’s Euro 2012 squad, but who will join him?

Daniel Sturridge
Caps: 1
2011/12 season: 29 appearances (9 goals)
Odds to make Euro 2012: 1/4 Blue Square

Verdict: Has represented England at every level since under-16s. Chelsea’s second highest goalscorer this season and amongst the goals despite playing wide in a misfiring team. Has an abundance of pace and the footballing arrogance needed to succeed at the top level.

Theo Walcott
Caps: 21 (3 goals)
2011/12 season: 35 appearances (8 goals)
Odds to make Euro 2012: 1/4 Blue Square

Verdict: His performance in the North London derby encapsulated his season. Often pilloried for making the wrong decision, but has an abundance of talent. Can be a match winner on his day and it might help that Harry Redknapp managed him at Southampton.

Danny Welbeck
Caps: 3
2011/12 season: 28 appearances (9 goals)
Odds to make Euro 2012 Squad: 1/3 Blue Square

Verdict: Returned to Old Trafford full of confidence after a successful loan spell at Sunderland last season. Has been keeping Javier Hernandez out of the starting XI and his club partnership with Wayne Rooney could be replicated for England.

Jermain Defoe
Caps: 46 (15 goals)
2011/12 season: 27 appearances (12 goals)
Odds to make Euro 2012: 8/11 Skybet

Verdict: Has struggled to make the starting XI at Tottenham but still finding the net when given the opportunity. His international experience could prove attractive to the new England manager.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin
Caps: 0
2011/12 season: 16 appearances (4 goals)
Odds to make Euro 2012: 5/4 Blue Square

Verdict: Only just broke into the Arsenal team, the European Championship might come too early. Full of promise but the fact he was overlooked for tonight’s friendly is a concern.

Fraizer Campbell
Caps: 0
2011/12 season: 6 appearances (2 goals)
Odds to make Euro 2012: 11/2 Skybet

Verdict: A surprise inclusion in the squad for the Netherlands friendly. He has been in excellent form after returning from a cruciate ligament injury, which kept him out for 18 months. Was a regular member of England-U21 squad and scored six goals in three pre-season games before injury struck in August 2010.

Best of the Rest

Peter Crouch 5/4 Skybet
Excellent international scoring record but didn’t fit into Fabio Capello’s preferred style of play.

Andy Carroll 11/8 Skybet
Slowly regaining his form for Liverpool but still short of his Newcastle best.

Darren Bent 4/1 Skybet
Ruled out until the end of May, leaves him very little time to prove his fitness.

Bobby Zamora 5/1 Skybet
On the fringes of England squads, he might be dragged down by QPR’s relegation battle.

Danny Graham (33/1), Scott Sinclair (33/1) and Grant Holt (33/1 all with Skybet) are all enjoying excellent seasons for their clubs. However, bookmakers think their chances are hampered by playing for ‘unfashionable’ teams. According to the betting they are less likely to make the squad than David Beckham (20/1 with Blue Square).