Since Owen, Heskey and even Crouch, the number 9 shirt for England has been somewhat up for grabs for the best part of 3 years, and although strikers such as Bent, Carroll, Welbeck and Defoe have taken up the role, none have cemented their place. With Rooney playing deeper and deeper into England’s midfield Roy Hodgson’s side will need to tie down its striking options sooner rather than later as the 2014 World Cup approaches. Although their place is not yet secured, England will be expected to qualify, but with the team beginning to rely on Lampard for important goals, who may not even be in the international picture in a year’s time, the forward problem is potentially one of England’s greatest worries. This report will systematically review the options available to Hodgson in an attempt to cast some light on who should be ‘banging them in’ for England by next summer.
Jermaine Defoe – The Safe Option