page_title: Robert Earnshaw
section_title: International career
hierarchical_section_title: Robert Earnshaw / International career
caption_attribution_description: Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, Robert Earnshaw and Craig Bellamy of Wales. 02/09/11 Wales V Montenegro, Euro 2012 qualifying, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
context_page_description: Robert Earnshaw is a Welsh former international footballer who played as a forward. He is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the Premier League, all three divisions of the English Football League, the League Cup, the FA Cup, and for his country in an international match.
  Born in Zambia and raised in South Wales, Earnshaw joined Cardiff City as a Youth Training Scheme trainee in 1997, and turned professional a year later. After making his debut at the age of sixteen, he spent a brief spell on loan with Greenock Morton before establishing himself in the first team. His prolific goalscoring saw him break several club records as he helped the club win promotion to the First Division in 2003. Scoring over 30 times in the First Division following promotion, he joined Premier League club West Bromwich Albion for £3.5 million in August 2004.
  He played for several English clubs before later in his career playing in Israel, Canada, and the United States. After leaving Cardiff City in 2004, Earnshaw's transfer fees totalled £12,650,000.
context_section_description: Despite being born in Zambia, Earnshaw chose to represent Wales at international level, stating "I thought long and hard about what to do, but Wales was my country. It was where I grew up." Bobby Gould, who managed Wales until 1999, stated that he convinced Earnshaw to switch allegiance, helping him overcome concerns over potential playing time. He was capped by Wales at youth level won ten caps for the under-21 side, scoring once in a 4–1 defeat to Belarus. His exploits in Cardiff City's promotion campaigns attracted the attention of national coach Mark Hughes. Earnshaw made his debut in May 2002, scoring the winning goal on his debut for Wales against Germany at the Millennium Stadium; he was also named man of the match.
  Earnshaw became a key member of the Wales squad during the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign. He staked his claim for a regular slot in the starting line-up with a hat-trick in the 4–0 friendly win over Scotland in February 2004. At the end of 2003–04, Earnshaw was named in the First Division team of the year.
  He represented Wales on 59 occasions over a decade and on 25 May 2011 captained the side against the Scotland at the Nations Cup. On 6 September 2011, in a Euro 2012 qualifier against England, he came on as a substitute with his team 1–0 down, and missed an 'open goal' from six yards, as England held on to win. Unused since August 2012, in the following March, Earnshaw stated that he was still available for selection by the national side, a message that he reiterated that October.
caption: Earnshaw (No.18) warming up for Wales, 2011
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