He on has 13 caps in a stop-start England career, but is set for a crucial role under in Ukraine and Poland.
Scott Parker: "It's a massive tournament for me personally.
"At 31 it's my first tournament so it's one I have been looking forward to for a long time and I am over the moon.
"You always watch the games and wish you could be there or playing a part in it but for one reason or another it wasn't meant to be.
"I suppose now I am here I need to try to soak up every bit of it and do the best I can when I'm called upon."
Parker was sold to Newcastle United in July 2005 from Chelsea for a fee of £6.5 million. Parker became a regular in the Newcastle first team and was one of the few players at the club to show any consistency during an often difficult season in which Newcastle finished in seventh place, despite having a very poor start under Graeme Souness.
His first Newcastle goal came against his former club Charlton in a 3–1 defeat. In March 2006 he was diagnosed with glandular fever, putting an end to his season. The timing was especially unfortunate for Parker, who had been playing well for Newcastle, as it ended any hopes he may have had of forcing his way into the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
In July 2006, he was named Newcastle United's new captain by manager Glenn Roeder. His first goal as captain came against Wigan Athletic in August 2006.
Parker scored his second goal of the season against Fulham in September 2006, but after he was substituted Newcastle conceded 2 goals and subsequently lost the game.
Despite Newcastle's poor form, his performances earned him a recall to the England squad in September after an absence of more than two years.
In November, Parker scored a goal in the 116th minute against Watford in the League Cup and then scored in the penalty shoot-out to allow Newcastle to progress in the competition.
He scored his fourth goal of the 2006–07 season against Tottenham Hotspur in December 2006.[20]
Parker was found to be the second best player in the country for December 2006 by Sky Sports and Opta Index.
He led Newcastle on their way to UEFA Intertoto Cup victory and was presented with the Intertoto Cup plaque in March 2007 before the UEFA Cup first leg tie with AZ, which Newcastle won after a thrilling finish.
In June 2077 he went to West Ham for £7m, having made 55 appearances for Newcastle.