Later today England boss Fabio Capello could get the chance to pair strikers Andy Carroll and Wayne Rooney in the England attack.
The pair have very different attributes but both have immense talent.
Put their attributes together and you have an almost perfect strike partnership.
Form
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney is without doubt the most talented footballer of his generation.
His form has been patchy over the last year but has picked up in recent months. He is now starting to look like the Wayne Rooney of last season.
Fit
Liverpool’s record signing Andy Carroll has hardly had the chance to play for his new club. He arrived carrying an injury and he is just now getting back to match fitness. When he gets back to full match fitness he will be a major threat to opposition defences.
It may take the striker a few weeks to get back to peak fitness. I can however see England boss Capello picking the giant striker for the clash with Wales.
Attributes
Wayne Rooney has everything in his armoury to be one of the best players in the world. We have all seen what he can do when he’s on song. The dribbling, vision and skill he conjures is unlike anything that any other English player can produce.
His fiery temper has calmed slightly in recent years as he has matured. He is no longer as rash as he was in his younger days. People are even now talking about him being a future England captain.
He may have had his problems off the pitch but he shows exceptional leadership skills by the way he plays the game. He has the character to motivate his teammates.
Raw
Andy Carroll’s talent is very raw but he has the potential to be a world-class striker. The striker reminds me of ex-Everton striker Duncan Ferguson. He is fantastic in the air but also has good skills on the ground.
His height and strength will always pose a threat to opposition defences. Like Rooney he has a lot of character and like Rooney he has also had his off field problems. He has vowed to turnover a new leaf at Liverpool and at 22 years of age he is still learning the game.
This season is his first full campaign in the Premier League but he had made a promising start for Newcastle before his big money move to Merseyside in the January transfer window.
Combination
Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll are completely different forward players. Rooney has many talents but one thing he can’t really offer England is an aerial threat. Carroll can provide the Three Lions with that and I can see linking up really well with the Manchester United star.
Andy Carroll is now considered as an alternative to Spurs striker Peter Crouch. The Tottenham striker has a good record at international level but I believe that Andy Carroll has the potential to be even better than the ex-Liverpool star.
Fiery
One attribute that the pair share is a fiery temperament and will to win. England have been accused of lacking heart in recent tournaments but these two wear their hearts on their sleeves. In recent weeks Rooney seems to have rediscovered his old hunger and hopefully his recent upturn in form continues.
Scary
Just the thought of Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll is a frightening prospect for opposition defences. It will be hard to contain both players. If opposition defences focus on stopping one of the pair then that leaves more room for the other.
The thought of the pair up front certainly fills me with a sense of excitement. I can’t remember the last time England had such a potentially exciting strike partnership. If the pair starts together against Wales we may not see the best of them but the prospects for the future of England’s attack is bright.
Are Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll the best strike partnership for England?
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