London 2012: 10 Overage Players Competing to Play for Team GB at the Olympics

Great Britain coach Stuart Pearce has some big decisions to make ahead of this summer's London 2012 Olympics football tournament.

His 18-man squad will be made up of players from Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England—and will represent the first time a GB collective has taken the field since 1971.

Pearce must pick 15 players who fit into the under-23 category. His remaining three picks can be overage players.

It's the three overage players that are arguably the most intriguing. Pearce certainly has plenty of options, and he may have some tough calls to make over the next few weeks.

Here are 10 men in the running to fill those spots.

10. Steven Naismith

Age: 25

Club: Rangers

Nationality: Scottish

International caps: 15

This one looks highly unlikely. Steven Naismith hasn't played for Rangers since suffering a cruciate ligament injury last October.

If he was selected, there's no question he'd take up the opportunity. Here's what Naismith told the Daily Record in December:

"

I don’t expect to be involved but if you’re a younger player and selfishly looking at football, and no other agenda, it’s another chance to show the world how good you are.

Playing with some of the best players in Britain against some of the best players in the world, as a footballer you’d be crazy not to think about it.

"

Naismith had scored nine goals in 11 games before injury cut short his SPL season.

9. Steven Fletcher

Age: 25

Club: Wolves

Nationality: Scottish

International caps: 8

According to BBC Sport, Wolves striker Steven Fletcher was on the initial list of 80 players contacted by Team GB to gauge their interest in participating this summer.

The 25-year-old scored 12 goals for relegated Wolves in the Premier League this season and is said to be keen on taking up a place in Pearce's squad if selected.

In the pluses column for Fletcher is, most notably, the fact that he's Scottish. Pearce will be looking for a quota of players from each of the four qualifying nations.

That said, Fletcher's self-enforced exile from the Scotland national team may count against him. 

Fletcher texted Scotland manager Craig Levein last February, saying he didn't want to be picked. Levein has heard nothing from him since and recently said he would not be selecting Fletcher as long as he was in charge of the team.

8. Aaron Lennon

Age: 25

Club: Tottenham

Nationality: English

International caps: 19

Aaron Lennon suffered another injury-hit campaign with Spurs in the Premier League, which ultimately doomed his chances of heading to Euro 2012 with England.

He finished the season with a spring in his step, however, so he could conceivably be in contention for a place in Pearce's Team GB squad.

If fully fit, he'd certainly bring some pace and penetration on the right flank.

7. Peter Crouch

Age: 31

Club: Stoke

Nationality: English

International caps: 42

Stoke striker Peter Crouch is another who enters the equation after being overlooked by Roy Hodgson for Euro 2012.

There's certainly no doubting his international credentials. Crouch has scored 22 goals in 42 games for England.

If picked, he'd offer Pearce a different kind of attacking threat in the final third. But his inclusion in the starting lineup would arguably call for a more direct style of play.

6. Rio Ferdinand

Age: 33

Club: Manchester United

Nationality: English

International caps: 81

Rio Ferdinand was devastated to be left out of England's squad for Euro 2012. 

Roy Hodgson said it was for "footballing reasons," but many suspect his relations with John Terry were more than partly responsible.

Either way, Ferdinand would represent a good defensive option for Team GB and comes with vast experience.

The only problem is that United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reportedly banned all his overage players, bar Ryan Giggs, from taking part in the Olympics.

Though United are obliged to release any underage stars Pearce wants, they have no requirement to hand over overage players. 

If Ferguson is adamant Ferdinand can't go, he probably won't go. The same rings true for Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.

5. Craig Bellamy

Age: 32

Club: Liverpool

Nationality: Welsh

International caps: 68

Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy is performing at the highest level, albeit with his appearances limited somewhat by injury problems.

The fiery Welshman has mellowed somewhat in recent years and would represent a wise head in Pearce's squad.

He also brings tenacity and attacking thrust to the party.

That said, Pearce has admitted he has concerns over Bellamy's ongoing knee problems. Here's what he had to say in April (per walesonline.co.uk):

"

One thing we have to be acutely aware of is that with an 18-man squad, and possibly six matches over an 18-day period, we will have to make sure the players are fully fit.

In that size squad you cannot lose one or two players or you’ll be on the back foot. 

We will have to consider everything with all individuals and then decide which way we are going to go with that. I have spoken to certain individuals that fall into that category like Craig.

But we will consider all that and decide to pick our squad accordingly in a few weeks time.

"

4. Joe Cole

Age: 30

Club: Liverpool (on loan at Lille last season)

Nationality: English

International caps: 56

Joe Cole was another to miss out on Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2012.

The midfielder enjoyed a good season on loan at Lille, and reports suggest he's now ready to return to Liverpool and fight for his place.

"There is still a part of me that would really love to make it work there and I don’t want to have a bad spell at Anfield on my CV," Cole told The Telegraph.

"But it is out of my hands now. At the minute I can’t rule anything in or out. We have got to speak to Liverpool and see what happens there."

Still relatively young, and with a point to prove, Cole has a strong case for inclusion in Pearce's squad this summer.

3. Darren Bent

Age: 28

Club: Aston Villa

Nationality: English

International caps: 13

With Bent having been left out of Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2012, he becomes available as an overage option to Pearce.

The Aston Villa striker underwent ankle surgery in March but should be back close to full fitness come the Olympics tournament in July.

He would certainly provide Team GB with a genuine goal threat. The only question is whether he'd be sharp enough after such a long injury layoff.

2. Ryan Giggs

Age: 38

Club: Manchester United

Nationality: Welsh

International caps: 64

Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs has made no secret of his desire to represent Team GB this summer.

Said Giggs, as per The Guardian: "I've put myself forward to be involved. Whether I get picked we'll have to see. Everybody is excited about the Olympics coming to London and different parts of Britain."

Giggs is also excited by the possibility of linking up with former Manchester United teammate David Beckham at the tournament.

"Becks is obviously a friend, and he remains a great player," he said. "If it was to be, it'd be great. I started my playing career with Becks in the [United] youth team. Twenty years later, to be still doing that would be great."

Giggs would clearly bring a calmness and authority to Team GB's midfield. The question is whether Pearce deems him a little too long in the tooth for the tournament.

There's also the issue of whether he could manage the intense competition schedule.

1. David Beckham

Age: 37

Club: LA Galaxy

Nationality: English

International caps: 115

David Beckham has made no secret of his desire to represent Team GB this summer.

His selection would certainly chime with the home crowds—not to mention the watching global audience. But Pearce has made it clear he will only pick Beckham on merit. 

In the pluses column you have Beckham's vast experience, his quality from set pieces and the fact that his presence would take a good deal of the pressure away from the young players around him.

The argument against Beckham is that he's a long way from the player he was once. He's playing in the MLS, a far weaker competition than the Premier League, and he's in the twilight of his career.

Picking the Three to Go

If it were down to me, I'd take Beckham, Giggs and Bent (if he's fully fit). If Bent didn't make it, I'd go with Cole instead.

Who would you choose?