Euro 2012: Steven Gerrard hopes England’s Andy Carroll can sparkle

Steven Gerrard is hoping Andy Carroll can bring his end-of-season form to the European championship ahead of England’s opening Group D game against France on Monday.

The 23-year-old managed a disappointing nine goals in 47 appearances in his first full season with the Reds after moving from Newcastle United in a record £35m deal in January 2011.

But Carroll appeared to make progress towards the end of the Premier League season as the England international netted three goals in his last seven games.

Manager Roy Hodgson included Carroll in his squad alongside fellow front-men Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Danny Welbeck for Euro 2012.

And England and Liverpool captain Gerrard, who was impressed by Carroll’s performances as the season reached its conclusion, is optimistic his club team-mate can reproduce some of that form in Poland and Ukraine.

“Domestically Andy probably didn’t want the season to end, because he hit top form and became unplayable for us in those final games,” Gerrard told the Daily Star.

“Everyone is focused here now on England and the whole country, myself included, will be hoping that Andy can bring his form from Liverpool into the international set-up.”

Hodgson’s side begin their Euro 2012 campaign against France in the Donbass Arena on Monday, followed by their second group game against Sweden on 15 June, before meeting Ukraine in Donetsk on 19 June.

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