Ten caps, one goal and a World Cup campaign enjoyed by Karen in 2011.

Karen Carney
Club Birmingham City
DOB 01.08.87
Debut and Year Italy 2005
Overall Record Caps 68 Goals 11
Record in 2011 Caps 10 Goals 1

Karen Carney made a timely return from injury in April, played her way into Hope Powell’s World Cup squad and played a key role in helping to propel England to the quarter-finals.

Aged just 24, Carney has already racked up 68 England caps and has become an integral member of the team. In her younger years, Carney made her name as a wide player but has been increasingly employed in a more central role behind the lone striker for both club and country, where she can exert her influence on proceedings.

Carney’s first appearance of the year came as a 75th-minute substitute against USA at Brisbane Road and she hasn’t missed an England game since.

She was a half-time sub against Sweden in May and scored the penalty that sealed England’s 2-0 victory. The Birmingham City star went on to feature in every match at this summer’s World Cup. Against Japan in the group stage, Carney played a wondrous through ball to Ellen White which the forward finished with aplomb. Carney also thumped home her penalty against France in the eventual shoot-out defeat.

During the World Cup, Carney mainly played either wide right or left, but she has started, and impressed, in the central ‘No.10’ role for all four Euro qualifiers so far.