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Clive Allen's goalscoring touch was one of the purest available to Bobby Robson in the 1980s, but his international career seemed to be based entirely on giving other strikers a rest. Hindered also by his early spells with clubs in constant relegation danger (QPR, Crystal Palace), Allen's tendency to keep his prolific form earned him many fans but few, not least Robson, saw him as a starter. A good season with Rangers earned him a spot on the eventful South American tour in 1984 but while fellow new boy Mark Hateley scored a stunning header against Brazil and earned his move to AC Milan as a consequence, Allen barely stood a chance. He came on as a sub for Tony Woodcock for his debut in that Brazil match and couldn't make a contribution, then saw the roles reversed in a 2-0 defeat against Uruguay before getting another start in the last game against Chile, which was as guileless as it was goalless.
A move to Tottenham Hotspur soon followed but it appeared Robson had seen enough. Over the next two years Hateley, and then most conclusively Gary Lineker, would establish themselves as chief strikers in Robson's thinking as England coasted through their qualifying campaign for the 1986 World Cup, and Allen wasn't reconsidered for England until 1987, when his freakish 49-goal season for Spurs meant it was impossible to ignore him. He started a European Championship qualifier in Turkey (see photo above) but somehow the game ended 0-0 - the Turks were still minnows and whipping boys at that time - and then failed to make any impact in a friendly a year later in Israel, when he was replaced by Mick Harford, never to return.
By now he had shifted across to Bordeaux and would subsequently skittle around several English clubs without ever getting his touch back in full. It seems odd that such a gifted goalscorer, who managed to break Jimmy Greaves' records at Spurs, should see so many goalless draws on his brief England CV. (Matthew Rudd)
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