Carlton, a 6’3” striker, was born in Croydon and was a Chelsea first-teamer at 19, scoring once in three Premier League appearances in 2001-02. He progressed to three goals in 13 games in the following season and also had a spell on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Loan periods at Charlton Athletic and Aston Villa gave him invaluable experience before he returned to play in the Blues’ first team in 2005-06.
Carlton clocked up 19 appearances for England’s Under-21s, netting six goals, but didn’t make his senior debut until he had become established as a regular marksman for West Ham United, the club he joined from Chelsea in July 2006. Fabio Capello gave him his first cap as a substitute for Gabriel Agbonlahor in the friendly with Spain in Seville on 11 February 2009, in a season in which he notched ten Premier League goals, and the big man also featured against Slovakia at Wembley a month later.
Another four substitute appearances followed in the first half of 2009-10, with Carlton showing that he was a useful player to be introduced into the action in the last half-hour of games.
