England Watch: Defoe, Rooney, Baines, Sturridge and Crouch impress Hodgson
Two days before Roy Hodgson names his England squad for Euro 2012, talkSPORT takes a look at five Englishmen who impressed on a dramatic last weekend of Premier League action...
Peter Crouch
The big man boasts an unrivalled goal scoring record for England and knows Euro 2012 represents his last realistic opportunity of major international honours. Crouch has played fewer games for Stoke than he did for Spurs last season, but has bagged three more goals. He was a constant threat to Bolton in the club's 2-2 draw and won the penalty that led to Stoke's second and the game's equaliser - a strike that consigned Owen Coyle and co. to relegation and kept his former club, QPR, in the Premier League.
Wayne Rooney
It was an afternoon to forget for Man United, who finished their game at Sunderland at the top of the Premier League table, only for Man City's late winner seconds later to push them back into second spot. Wayne Rooney nodded in the game's only goal from close range, yet could easily have scored another three, crashing two free-kicks against the woodwork and missing a sitter. That didn't detract from another stand-out performance from United's number 10, but the big question now is whether he can replicate this form for England after a two-game suspension.
Jermain Defoe
Defoe underlined his predatory instincts with a poacher's finish, two minutes after replacing Rafael van der Vaart on the hour mark. It gave Spurs a 2-0 lead over Fulham, secured fourth spot and marked Defoe's 11th Premier League goal of the 2011/12 season, a remarkable feat considering the striker only started 11 games. England must line-up without Wayne Rooney for their opening two group games at Euro 2012 and many feel Defoe would be well suited to partnering former Tottenham team-mate Crouch in attack.
Leighton Baines
Baines returned from a month on the sidelines through injury to remind Roy Hodgson of the qualities that have marked him out as English football's finest left-back this season. There was little to be done defensively against a below par Newcastle team, but impressive link up play with Steven Pienaar proved a constant attacking threat. He's the only man playing for a club outside the Premier League's top five who made it into the PFA Team of the Year, and deservedly so. Unfortunately for Baines, Ashley Cole's experience is likely to consign him to a substitute role at Euro 2012.
Daniel Sturridge
A regular starter under Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea, Sturridge has endured a difficult spell on the sidelines under Roberto Di Matteo, often being overlooked for the bigger occasions in favour of Salomon Kalou. There was a little more end product in the club's 2-1 win over Blackburn than Chelsea fans have come to expect from the former Bolton loanee, but considering he has been deployed in a wide position for much of the season that is understandable, though that versatility could yet land him a spot on England's plane for Ukraine even if it is not enough to guarantee a starting berth in the Champions League.
Follow the Official Team Sponsor at