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Andrew Lonergan (Preston North End)
Total Caps 20 |
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Andrew came into the England system at the age of 14 and is one of the older members of this squad. He is a player who proves that hard work and dedication pays off, developing his technique through sheer practice. He has seen off the challenge of four other goalkeepers to establish himself as our number 1, is thought of highly by Craig Brown at Deepdale and has kept two clean sheets in our warm-up games. |
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Ben Bowditch (Tottenham Hotspur)
Total Caps 43, Goals 3 |
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Ben has been in the Under-20's squad for a long time, coming in at a young age and was part of the squad in July 2002 that ensured we qualified for this tournament. Another who was first capped at the age of 14, he has played in three UEFA European Finals, and is now in the FIFA World Championships. A composed, holding midfield player, he is neat and tidy and provides the link between the back four and midfield. As an ex-centre half he is also good in the air and strong in the tackle. |
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Chris Carruthers (Northampton Town)
Total Caps 8 |
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Aside from Andrew Lonergan, the only player from outside the Premier League, Chris has established himself in the first team at Northampton and is an excellent defender. Strong and fit with good distribution, he also likes to get forward. He has an Italian defensive mentality where he refuses to let people get past him, and had one of his finest moments in Toulon earlier this year.
For 45 minutes he marked Christiano Ronaldo out of the game against Portugal, so that Ronaldo had to switch wings. Chris plays in the Third Division, but six weeks later Ronaldo was signed by Manchester United for £12million! |
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David Fox (Manchester United)
Total Caps 25, Goals 1 |
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David has been gaining some valuable experience on loan at Royal Antwerp in Belgium, and is very much in the Nicky Butt mould. A good holding player in the midfield, nothing rattles him, he has a steadying influence on others in the team, and always look to bring other people into the game. |
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Steven Taylor (Newcastle United)
Total Caps 21, Goals 3 |
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Has qualities of Tony Adams and Martin Keown in his game, and really suits international football. He is 6' 3'', likes to bring the ball out of defence into midfield and reads the game so well. Shows great leadership qualities and could do all the way to the very highest level. |
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Matt Kilgallon (Leeds United)
Total Caps 14 |
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Made his debut for the Under-18's as a 17 year old and made an instant impression. He has grown stronger and physically has become more competitive. Another good reader of the game with a nice left foot, he was outstanding against the Czech Republic in our warm-up game and has continued his form at West Ham during his loan spell. A good team player and quietly efficient, he has also worked hard on his game. |
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Jerome Thomas (Arsenal)
Total Caps 15, Goals 1 |
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The oldest player in the squad, he came of age in a game against Italy last year. We lost 4-1, he was clattered all game by their defenders, but his performance was outstanding and would have been worthy of any club side in the world. Technically he has qualities comparable to Thierry Henry or Brazilian players and has the potential to be one of the stars of the tournament. Has a great first touch, can supply the ammunition to our strikers and can also score goals himself. |
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Gary O'Neil (Portsmouth)
Total Caps 13, Goals 1 |
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Captain of the side and a great leader. A goalscoring midfielder as he showed in Portsmouth's 6-1 win over Leeds United, he has been gaining valuable experience at Walsall on loan recently. Played a major role in the qualification of the side for these championships where he partnered Jermaine Jenas in midfield, taking over the armband when Jermaine was elevated to the Under-21's and senior side. |
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Michael Chopra (Newcastle United)
Total Caps 33, Goals 14 |
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'Chops' is a great prospect and has already got Champions League experience at Newcastle. He has built a very productive relationship up front with Eddie Johnson, highlighted in the final warm-up game against Wales and as well as a great goalscorer, he also covers a lot of ground for the team, putting pressure on the opposition defence even when not in possession. |
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Darren Carter (Birmingham City)
Total Caps 11, Goals 3 |
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A graceful player who has had a lot of first team experience at Birmingham, and scored the winner to send them through to the Premier League in the 2002 penalty shoot-out against Norwich. A great passer of the ball, and excellent deliverer of set pieces with a sweet left foot, he also the potential to score goals from midfield.
His play is reminiscent of Michael Carrick a couple of seasons ago when he burst into the first team at West Ham, both displaying a composure way beyond their years. |
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Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough)
Total Caps 11 |
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Elevated from the Under-17's, he is the most junior player in the squad. Has already been on the first team bench at Middlesbrough, providing great competition for another England Youth international defender, Andrew Davies. Composed on the ball and gets on into midfield, he came on as left back against Wales and put in an accomplished performance. Left sided player who is equally happy at left back, centre back or in midfield. |
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Ross Turnbull (Middlesbrough)
Total Caps 5 |
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Accelerated through the international ranks as Lenny Pidgeley and Lee Camp have both been playing regular first team football. Still playing with the Under 19's, this tournament provides him with the opportunity to gain some more crucial international experience. Another player who has been on the bench at the Riverside already, he is 6' 5'' and still growing. |
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Philip Ifil (Tottenham Hotspur)
Total Caps 21 |
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Young right back who only had his 17th birthday in the week that the squad met up. Already played at England youth level he loves to get forward, and has become a regular for Tottenham's Under 19 Academy side. Thought of very highly at Tottenham by David Pleat, I wouldn't be surprised to see him break into the first team squad before too long. |
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Martin Crainie (Southampton)
Total Caps 7, Goals 1 |
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Another of the younger group of players in the squad, he is also very versatile. Can play as a centre back, right back or in midfield, he has a great first touch, is very economical with his passing and likes going forward on the overlap. He came on in our final warm-up game at right back and looked like he'd been there forever. |
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James McEveley (Blackburn Rovers)
Total Caps 2 |
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An 18-year-old who can play at left back or further into midfield, he also got some valuable first team experience under his belt in the Premier League last season. Played in both warm up victories for us and a very solid, reliable performer who likes to get up and down the left touchline. Already capped at Under-21 level by David Platt, a good performance in this tournament could help propel him further through the development ranks. |
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Lee Croft (Manchester City)
Total Caps 41, Goals 5 |
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At the age of 16 I showed him a video of Luis Figo and told Lee that he should watch him and learn from him, as he could emulate what Figo brings to the Portuguese team. Nice balance, a great dribbler, intelligent and fantastic enthusiasm, he has all the attributes of an attacking midfielder. He loves to take a player on and can be very difficult for opponents to pick up and track. |
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John Welsh (Liverpool)
Total Caps 29, Goals 1 |
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A tough tackler and another leader in the squad, John is equally at home in defence or in midfield. Although his record may not suggest it, he is another possible outlet for goals outside the frontline, and has matured through the age groups, playing nine times for the Under-19's last season, including two of the three qualifiers for the World Youth Championships.
Like Michael Chopra, he has gained European experience at club level with Liverpool this season and is highly rated by Gerard Houllier. |
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Eddie Johnson (Manchester United)
Total Caps 9, Goals 4 |
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Good in the air, lethal in front of goal and a player who puts in a phenomenal work rate. Scored both our goals against Wales before we came out to Dubai, and he is extremely excited about this tournament. Has also come up through the development ranks for England and made five consecutive appearances for the Under 19's last season, scoring three goals. |
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Tommy Wright (Leicester City)
Total Caps 11, Goals 5 |
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Tommy provides us with another option up front. Great in the air, technically sound and very powerful, he is reaping the benefits of a loan spell at Brentford recently. A really bubby character to have around the squad, he is another player who will be looking at this tournament as a key part of his personal development. In seven appearances for the Under 19's last season, he scored five goals. |