STAKE CLAIM
Strike duo must seize chance of Euros spot
WHEN the three strikers still in the England squad have less than 90 minutes of international football between them, the withdrawal of Wayne Rooney with a throat infection could be considered something of a blessing this week.
It will not make beating Holland in tomorrow’s friendly any easier. On the contrary, the confidence of Dutch boss Bert van Marwijk must be growing with each bulletin that comes from the FA. First they lose a captain, then a manager and now half the team.
But when tomorrow’s encounter at Wembley is also a key part of England’s preparation for this summer’s European Championship — and the last proper test given they face Norway and Belgium in the f i nal run- outs before meeting France in Donetsk on June 11 — caretaker manager Stuart Pearce needs to make good use of it when it comes to his forwards.
With Rooney suspended for the group games against France and Sweden and Darren Bent out for three months with an ankle injury, Holland is a huge audition and an opportunity England c oul d do with Danny Welbeck seizing.
Welbeck is a super player and has impressed at Manchester United this season. But he has played just 50 minutes of international football — only 14 of which were competitive — and that must change.
Daniel Sturridge is another option, even if he often plays wide for Chelsea. He, too, is an emerging star but his international opportunities have been even more limited: he has played just 32 minutes, as a substitute in last November’s friendly against Sweden.
When the third striker still standing is the untried Fraizer Campbell, the concern for Pearce, Harry Redknapp or anyone else, is legitimate. This is not a situation any manager would welcome so close to a major tournament.
It highlights the reliance England have on Rooney but also exposes how unprepared the team appear to be, even if it would be wrong to blame the FA for what has happened with John Terry and Fabio Capello. As Pearce said last week, England are where they are and it is his job to try to make the most of this match against the World Cup runners-up, even if he should have included more senior defenders, like Joleon Lescott.
Welbeck is the one Pearce needs to focus on, even if it would be interesting to see Sturridge make an impact as well, perhaps out wide as a second-half replacement for the in-form Theo Walcott.
James Milner, a midfielder Pearce believes is potential captaincy material, yesterday expressed a view probably shared by a number of players in commenting on the loss of Capello.
‘It’s not ideal timing changing manager going i nto a major tournament,’ he said. ‘But as players we can’t control that. All we can control is how we play and hopefully do as well as we can.’
He dismissed concerns about the l ack of experience among the forwards and the fact that two of the squad’s three centre halves have not appeared for England in that position. ‘I don’t think it’s a problem,’ he said. ‘The players are here because they are top players.
‘ Danny Welbeck and Studge (Sturridge); their form this year is fantastic and they are playing for top teams. Welbs has played up front for England. He can play up there on his own.
‘Studge at Chelsea, a lot seems to be going through him. They are three very good players. That’s not an issue for this side. The centre halves the same. We’ve got the suspension of Wayne to deal with in the summer but it gives someone else a chance and it is a great opportunity.’
Pearce called a team meeting yesterday morning and those who played on Sunday, particularly those involved in the 120-minute Carling Cup final epic, were told t hey were not expected to perform for 90 minutes tomorrow.
That, it was thought, might point to someone other than Steven Gerrard being named captain but by last night Pearce had given no indication of his intentions.
Gerrard remains the strong favourite, even if Milner said he would be happy to take on the extra responsibility. ‘If I’m asked to do the job I will jump at the chance,’ he said.
Milner also gave his opinion on the appointment of Capello’s successor: in his view, the next manager does not necessarily have to be English. ‘It’s an England team full of England players,’ he said. ‘But as players you want the best man for the job. You just want the best people you can, from the manager to the physio to the kit man.’
On a positive note, Rooney declared yesterday that the squad, at least, is in better shape than two years ago.
‘As a team we go to the Euros better off,’ he said. ‘I feel we’ll be a lot better than we were against Germany at the World Cup. The goal is to try to win the competition — it’s been a long time since England won one.
‘Hopefully we can do well in the two matches I’ll miss. Then hopefully the manager brings me back and I’ve got a chance to help us do well. That’s obviously my aim. I think, as a team, we aim to try to do that. It will be down to the new manager who he takes to the finals.’
First, t hough, t he current manager needs to help Welbeck establish himself as an England centre forward.