Alan Smith
DOB 28.10.80
2007 Caps 3, Goals 0
Career Caps 19, Goals 1
Newcastle
Alan Smith began 2007 by rejecting a loan move to Championship side Cardiff City and vowing to fight for his place at Manchester United after recovering from the broken leg and dislocated ankle that had dealt his career such a crushing blow almost a year earlier.
Former Leeds striker Smith, converted to a midfielder at Old Trafford, was back in a front role for the England 'B' team when he partnered Newcastle's Michael Owen against Albania at Burnley in May.
Smith opened the scoring in a 3-1 victory before being replaced by Kieron Dyer in the 64th minute. It helped to earn Smith a starting spot alongside Owen for the friendly with Brazil as England's senior side made their bow at the new Wembley in a 1-1 draw on 1 June.
Smith's game, however, once more lasted little over an hour as Dyer was again sent on in his place, this time after 62 minutes.
Despite his characteristic determination, Smith was forced to concede defeat in his battle to convince United manager Sir Alex Ferguson that he should be a permanent fixture in his side, and he agreed a £6million summer switch to Newcastle.
Smith lined up in attack in England's 2-1 Wembley friendly defeat by Germany in August, when he was withdrawn for Peter Crouch after 57 minutes.
His third and final senior appearance for the Three Lions in the calendar year came as a 73rd minute substitute in November's 1-0 friendly win against Austria in Vienna, where he replaced goalscorer Crouch.
Smith ended the year still searching for his first senior England goal in five years, but his whole-hearted performances in Newcastle's midfield saw him awarded the captaincy by then-manager Sam Allardyce.
"People know what they get from me - 100 per cent. Everyone knows central midfield or up front are my preferred positions, but I can also play wide right. You're giving something totally different to the team playing out wide.'' Alan Smith