Where have all the great English centre forwards gone?

Following the international retirement of Alan Shearer, a lot of people have been speculating about who will take over in the number nine shirt.

I must admit I am finding it tough trying to come up with a name.

Most of the Premiership clubs have European strikers - Thierry Henry at Arsenal is one good example and none have what I call 'real' centre forwards in the old fashioned mould.

Emile Heskey is not a real centre forward in that sense and although Teddy Sheringham is the nearest he still plays deep.

You need someone who gives a physical presence and while there are plenty of strikers who play off a big, strong, striker, we are short on quality target men.

In my day there seemed to be so many great strikers: Alan Clarke and Mick Jones at Leeds, Charlie George at Arsenal, Kevin Hector at my old club Derby County, Frank Worthington, Keegan and Toshack up at Liverpool, Joe Royle at Everton, Trevor Francis and one of the toughest opponents I ever came up against, Martin Chivers.

Chivers began his career at Southampton but moved on to Tottenham Hotspur.

He was a great player and underrated in my book. He should have got more international recognition because he had great pace for a big lad and he received and distributed the ball so well.

I always found him a handful and someone in his mould would be a tremendous asset in an England team of today.

A lot of people have talked about Malcolm MacDonald as one of the best centre forwards but with Big Mac you knew exactly what he would do and that made it easier to defend.

He still ran some defences ragged of course but I always had the better of him.

With Chivers it was a different story and I always knew I was going to be in for a tough game and that I would have to be on top form.

Charlie George was another great player of the 70s and 80s and like Chivers he should also have got more recognition.

But today, I can honestly say I find it hard to come up with the perfect English front line.

We've tried so many combinations: Fowler, Owen, Cole and now Sheringham is back in the frame.

Oh, how we'd all love to see a big, bustling centre forward leading the line in the white number nine shirt again.