Ukraine vs England - 5 Ways To Solve Roy Hodgson's Striking Crisis

By Joseph Dempsey /

England manager Roy Hodgson has something of a crisis on his hands as he prepares for tomorrow's crunch World Cup qualifier against Ukraine. First, striker Wayne Rooney was ruled out of the double header which also took in a fixture against Moldova last Friday, before Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge was confirmed out having failed to overcome a hamstring problem. If that wasn't bad enough, Danny Welbeck then picked up a foolish yellow card against the Moldovans that would effectively suspend him for the clash in Kiev. All of which leaves Hodgson and the Three Lions with just two fit strikers - Jermain Defoe and Rickie Lambert. That's not exactly a strike force that will strike fear into the heart of the Ukrainians who, with a victory tomorrow, could leapfrog England in the group table. Defoe isn't match-fit as and isn't getting in the Tottenham team while Lambert, though he has impressed thus far, has only made two appearances for England. England may lead Group H as things stand but cannot afford to lose to third placed Ukraine, and Hodgson's patched-up side have a stern task ahead of them. Here, we take a look at 5 ways the Lions could solve their striking crisis.