World Cup experience prepares defender for Senior debut.

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Michael Dawson
Age 27 Date of Birth 18.11.1983
Career caps 2
Caps in 2010 2
Tottenham Hotspur

Having played a major role in helping his club, Tottenham Hotspur, achieve a top-four Premier League finish in 2010, Michael Dawson put himself firmly in contention for a berth in Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad – making it into the Italian’s provisional 30-man group.

Although he failed to make the final cut, the Spurs centre-back was first in line for a phone call when Three Lions captain Rio Ferdinand was forced out of the tournament in South Africa through injury.

The combative defender did not play in the Finals but the experience proved valuable and when England played their first post-World Cup match, against Hungary, Dawson was on hand to make his international bow.

He retained his place in the team as the Three Lions began their European Championship qualifying campaign against Bulgaria but was unlucky to suffer an injury during the fixture that would rule him out for over three months.