Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe to REPLACE Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent in England’s attack?

Wayne Rooney is suspended for England's opening two Euro 2012 fixtures and Darren Bent will be frantically trying to get himself fit for the tournament following a long injury lay off, so who should replace the duo in the front line?

We've run the rule over six contenders ready and willing to fill the striker's boots…

Jermain Defoe
With eight Premier League goals in 17 appearances, the Tottenham striker is second only to Daniel Sturridge in terms of top flight goals this season as the fight for a starting berth intensifies. This is despite being forced to play second fiddle to Emmanuel Adebayor at White Hart Lane. Defoe appears to be out of favour with England, too, having not played for the national side since the 1-1 draw with Ghana at Wembley in March 2011 and Stuart Pearce decided not to call him up for the Holland friendly, despite the absence of Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent. He's got the experience, but Defoe may miss out on a major tournament again, having been omitted from the Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup squads.

VERDICT: EURO BAIL OUT

Danny Welbeck
Pacy, strong and skilful, the 21-year-old has managed to get the nod ahead of Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov with regularity in the Man United starting line-up this season. His club manager Sir Alex Ferguson even claimed: “He's got a talent as good as anyone in the game for the forwards,” and let's not forget, either, that he's also had experience from a young age playing against international opposition (see the video below).

VERDICT: EURO STAR

DANIEL STURRIDGE
Nine goals in 20 Premier League appearances for Chelsea this season is an impressive return for someone that has been played out of position. A natural finisher, the centre forward has been played out wide for his club and should he get his chance against the Dutch at Wembley, then he will be desperate to shine considering there are just two further friendlies before taking on the French at Euro 2012. If he can continue tucking his chances away then there is every chance the composed 22-year-old will be on the plane to Poland and Ukraine.

VERDICT: EURO STAR

Bobby Zamora
He has just two caps to his name, but since his transfer to Fulham from West Ham in 2008, Zamora's goals and work rate earned his rave reviews and in 2010 made his first appearance for the full England team. He impressed against Sweden in his second appearance in November 2011 and, though he failed to score, he was praised for his hold up play and vision. Following his move from Fulham to QPR in the 2012 January transfer window, he scored on his debut and this season has six goals and five assists.

VERDICT: EURO BAIL OUT

Andy Carroll
While he has not been able to fire on all cylinders for Liverpool since joining from Newcastle in the 2011 January transfer window and has slipped out of the reckoning for the Dutch friendly, there have been signs that Carroll is slowly returning to his best. England have international friendlies against Norway and Belgium still to play before Euro 2012, in which he can make his mark, while Liverpool still have 12 games in the Premier League left to play and are still in the FA Cup, so the big man has a chance to impress. A return of three Premier League goals so far has been poor, but Carroll brings another dimension to a team's play and if he can finish the season with a few more strikes then he could convince the next England boss he provides a viable alternative in the absence of Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent.

VERDICT: EURO STAR

Peter Crouch
His last appearance in an England shirt came in 2010 and following Fabio Capello's decision to resign as manager of the national team, Crouch stated his desire to play for his country again. “Whoever takes over hopefully will start picking me again but it's only what you do for your club that warrants getting in the England set-up again so I've got to play well for Stoke, score goals and hopefully that will come,” he said. His record of 22 goals in 42 caps is impressive, as his 10 goals in all completions for Stoke this season, but Crouchy may be tainted by his association with recent tournament failures.

VERDICT: EURO BAIL OUT

Which strikers do you think England should take to Euro 2012? Have your say by commenting below…