England squad to take on Europe (From Daily Echo)

England squad to take on Europe

3:35pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in International

PEN PICTURES OF England’s 23-man squad for the European Championships.

GOALKEEPERS

Robert Green (West Ham) Born: Chertsey. Age: 32. Caps: 11. Goals: 0. Debut: 2005.

Dropped into the Championship with West Ham but the former Norwich man possesses plenty of experience around the England camp.

Joe Hart (Manchester City) Born: Shrewsbury. Age: 25. Caps: 17. Goals: 0. Debut: 2008.

England's number one for the summer, unless manager Roy Hodgson has a major shock up his sleeve. A Premier League title winner with Manchester City and one of Europe's finest goalkeepers.

John Ruddy (Norwich) Born: St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Age: 25. Caps: 0. Goals: 0. Debut: N/A.

Perhaps the most surprising selection of all. Ruddy shone with Cambridge as a youngster before going on to join Everton and then play for a host of clubs on loan. Settled at Norwich now, and highly impressive in the season just ended.

DEFENDERS

Leighton Baines (Everton) Born: Kirkby. Age: 27. Caps: 7. Goals: 0. Debut: 2010.

Unlucky to be playing at a time when Ashley Cole, among the world's best left-backs, is his rival for selection. Baines defends well but also hits a mean free-kick and is a penalty taker for Everton.

Gary Cahill (Chelsea) Born: Sheffield. Age: 26. Caps: 8. Goals: 2. Debut: 2010.

Left a sinking ship at Bolton and could find himself playing in a Champions League final on Saturday. A class act in the centre of defence but largely untested at international level.

Ashley Cole (Chelsea) Born: Stepney. Age: 31. Caps: 93. Goals: 0. Debut: 2001.

England's most capped full-back is also the outfield player with the most appearances and no goal for the national team. Reliable in over a decade as an international.

Glen Johnson (Liverpool) Born: Greenwich. Age: 27. Caps: 35. Goals: 1. Debut: 2003.

Played under Hodgson at Liverpool, when he struggled to impress the then Reds manager. Wins his place at the Euro 2012 finals ahead of Manchester City's Micah Richards.

Phil Jones (Manchester United) Born: Preston. Age: 20. Caps: 4. Goals: 0. Debut: 2011.

Former Blackburn youngster Jones has had a mixed first year at Manchester United, shining initially before his performances became patchy. Considered one who will be around the England team for years to come, and versatile.

Joleon Lescott (Manchester City) Born: Birmingham. Age: 29. Caps: 14. Goals: 0. Debut: 2007.

Another who heads into Euro 2012 on the back of winning the Premier League. Former Wolves and Everton man Lescott will be vying to start games this summer.

John Terry (Chelsea) Born: Barking. Age: 31. Caps: 72. Goals: 6. Debut: 2003.

Chelsea's captain has been stripped of the international job but remains a key man for England. Misses the Champions League final through suspension. After speculation he would miss Euro 2012 due to a pending court case, Terry will be delighted to have kept his place.

MIDFIELDERS

Gareth Barry (Manchester City) Born: Hastings. Age: 31. Caps: 52. Goals: 3. Debut: 2000.

Made his England debut as a teenager and in recent years has held down a defensive midfield role. Scott Parker's emergence could scupper his hopes of starting matches this summer.

Stewart Downing (Liverpool) Born: Middlesbrough. Age: 27. Caps: 33. Goals: 0. Debut: 2005.

Joined Liverpool for big money from Aston Villa last summer but his performances for Kenny Dalglish's side have been frequently criticised. The winger has yet to score for his new club, or for his country.

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) Born: Whiston. Age: 31. Caps: 90. Goals: 19. Debut: 2000.

Approaching a century of caps, but Gerrard has struggled to take his Liverpool form into the international game. After a mediocre club campaign by his standards, he will be hoping to step up a level for his former club boss Hodgson who has named him as captain.

Frank Lampard (Chelsea) Born: Romford. Age: 33. Caps: 90. Goals: 23. Debut: 1999.

Also pushing towards 100 caps, Lampard has been reinstated as a fixture in the Chelsea team by Roberto Di Matteo after being marginalised to an extent by previous boss Andre Villas-Boas. Still looks key for England.

James Milner (Manchester City) Born: Leeds. Age: 26. Caps: 24. Goals: 0. Debut: 2009.

Not particularly central to City's league title success, Milner is also a likely bench-warmer for England. Can play anywhere across midfield.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Born: Portsmouth. Age: 18. Caps: 0. Goals: 0. Debut: N/A.

The wild card. An abundance of talent and pace but precious little experience, and none at this level.

Scott Parker (Tottenham) Born: Lambeth. Age: 31. Caps: 11. Goals: 0. Debut: 2003.

A grafter and a tackler, the experienced Parker was becoming a vital cog under former boss Fabio Capello.

Theo Walcott (Arsenal) Born: Stanmore. Age: 23. Caps: 22. Goals: 3. Debut: 2006.

Six years since he went to the World Cup as a boy, Walcott has established himself in the England squad but his performances have been hit and miss. Unplayable on his day.

Ashley Young (Manchester United) Born: Stevenage. Age: 26. Caps: 19. Goals: 5. Debut: 2007.

A solid first season at Old Trafford has seen Young's stock rise. Offers a goal threat from wide on either flank.

FORWARDS

Andy Carroll (Liverpool) Born: Gateshead. Age: 23. Caps: 3. Goals: 1. Debut: 2010.

An unsteady first full campaign with Liverpool, but Carroll began to pick up form in the closing weeks. Offers a physical presence and, though still a raw talent, can unsettle any defender.

Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) Born: Beckton. Age: 29. Caps: 46. Goals: 15. Debut: 2004.

Defoe has not been a regular starter for Tottenham in the last nine months but could find himself thrust into the England forward line. A predator who has served his country well in the past.

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) Born: Croxteth. Age: 26. Caps: 73. Goals: 28. Debut: 2003.

Suspended for England's opening two matches but a talisman within the squad, and feared throughout Europe. The real class act among Hodgson's forwards.

Danny Welbeck (Manchester United) Born: Longsight. Age: 21. Caps: 4. Goals: 0. Debut: 2011.

Rooney's club-mate heads to his first tournament with England. Could be plunged in from the start.