Carroll feeling fresh for Euros

England striker Andy Carroll says he is ready to shine at Euro 2012 after regaining his fitness and confidence towards the end of the season.

The 23-year-old struggled for much of his first full campaign with the Reds but improved his form in the latter stages, helping fire the Merseyside outfit to the FA Cup final.

And Carroll, who joined Liverpool for 35 million pounds in January 2011, now feels that he is in optimum shape to lead the line in the absence of Wayne Rooney for the Three Lions’ first two games in Ukraine.

“Now I’ve got a chance to show what I’m about. The fee didn’t bother me, I always believed in myself. But things weren’t going for me and I didn’t play as many games as I hoped for Liverpool,” he said.

“But finally I did get a run in the side towards the end of the season. I did well, got my confidence up and now I’m here.

“I feel fitter now than I did at the beginning of the season or even halfway through the season. I just needed that run of games.

“Now, I’m feeling good and fresh. At the end of the season I felt like I was moving a lot better and getting involved in games more than I did at the beginning – and it feels great.”

The former Newcastle striker won his fourth England cap in Saturday’s 1-0 friendly win over Norway and set up Ashley Young to score the only goal of Roy Hodgson’s first game as Three Lions manager.

“We scored early then kept the lead well. We’ve got a good team and loads of quality players but I gave it my best shot and we’ll see when it comes round,” he said.

“It was just a 4-4-2 and a matter of keeping our shape when they had the ball and just to counterattack. Norway had a lot of the ball but when we had our chance we put it away. We kept the ball well and did well.

“I was delighted to be in the squad. The manager wants a big man up front and he’s picked me, so it’s great.”

Goalscorer Young hailed his strike partner and was delighted to see a training-ground move pay off in the game.

“Andy is a strong player, a fantastic player to have in the team,” the Manchester United man said.

“You saw in the first five minutes that he can get his head on to something. He will get in the box and score goals.

“I think the goal came from a one-two. It’s something we had been working on during the week and it paid off during the game.”

Source : http://www.soccernews.com/carroll-feeling-fresh-for-euros/95382/