England announce Euro 2012 squad

London: Roy Hodgson has submitted his final 23-man squad for England’s Euro 2012 campaign with Liverpool forward Andy Carroll handed the number nine shirt.

There are no late surprises as Scott Parker, Danny Welbeck and Glen Johnson retained their places despite recent injury scares.

And Carroll, who struggled for large periods with Liverpool this season before rediscovering some form towards the back end of the season, was given the much sought-after number nine slot.

It is not the first time Carroll has been handed a significant number nine jersey with the tall striker impressing for Newcastle for the first half of the 2010/11 season wearing the iconic shirt.

On Monday, Gareth Barry was ruled out of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine after suffering a tear to his lower abdomen in the 1-0 friendly win against Norway over the weekend.

Everton defender Phil Jagielka was called up as his replacement after manager Roy Hodgson said he would ‘re-configure’ his squad should the Manchester City midfielder miss out.

John Ruddy was the only other casualty with the Norwich goalkeeper, who would have been third choice at the championship, being ruled out due to a broken finger and replaced by Birmingham rookie Jack Butland.

Parker (Achilles), Welbeck (ankle) and Johnson (toe) had been doubts but it seems those problems have cleared up and they will report for duty at England`s Watford base on Tuesday.

England Squad: Joe Hart, Glen Johnson, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Andy Carroll, Ashley Young, Leighton Baines, Robert Green, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, James Milner, Scott Parker, Phil Jagielka, Stewart Downing, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jermain Defoe, Danny Welbeck, Jack Butland.

BDST: 1935 HRS, May 29, 2012
Edited by: Manoz Halder, Newsroom Editor