Austin, Carroll and Kane press winter claims for England inclusion

Austin is netting all types of goals; dead ball situations and set pieces, headers, poachers’ finishes. Having proven he can do it in the Premier League, surely Hodgson will run the rule over him in the spring.

Andy Carroll
On standby for the World Cup this past summer, West Ham United target man Carroll may benefit from not being tarred with the failure brush from Brazil. Staying fit has been a major problem for him in recent seasons, however.

Carroll, who turns 26 in the New Year, made a real difference in the Hammers’ last televised outing, a 3-1 win over fellow top half hopefuls Swansea City. That encounter was billed as a battle between the striker West Ham boss Sam Allardyce signed and one he could’ve done instead in Wilfried Bony.

Not only did Carroll outscore the Ivorian at Upton Park, but he followed it up by netting again in the next Hammers home game against Leicester City. That means he has three in as many matches and in six starts since returning from injury.

Should Carroll maintain both form and fitness, he must be a certainty to replace Lambert on the Three Lions roster and add to nine caps and two international goals.

Harry Kane
The old saying goes don’t send a boy to do a man’s job, so Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado should really both take a long, hard look at themselves.

It’s not these established Spurs strikers that are doing the damage at White Hart Lane for Mauricio Pochettino this term, but England Under-21 international Kane.

By grabbing goals in three consecutive games in league and cup, the 21-year-old has taken his total tally across all competitions to 13 in 22 outings.

At his best starting from deep, Kane juxtaposes nicely with all-round scoring threat Austin or physical presence Carroll. His contribution to a prolific strike partnership with Berahino for Gareth Southgate’s Under-21s gives him cause for optimism about the future.

Punters can expect to see that pairing reprised at the European youth finals in the Czech Republic this coming summer. Hodgson might want to consider bringing Kane, 21, into the senior set-up this spring first, though.

England are 12/1 chances to win Euro 2016, which makes them joint-fourth favourites with upcoming friendly opponents Italy and a brilliant Belgium team that reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.