Becks gives me a head start, insists Crouch

'Most of my goals come from crosses,' said the striker, who is expected to lead the England attack on his own against Croatia on Wednesday night. 'So David is exactly the kind of player I need.

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'He delivered the corner for me to score against Austria last Friday and it was thanks to him I scored in my last start prior to that, in Estonia. An early cross is perfect for me and David always provides that. He's the best there is.'

If Steve McClaren does select Beckham for what would be his 99th cap — and on Monday England's players certainly thought he intended to — Crouch's words will ease the sense of anxiety in his mind.

Choosing between Beckham and players of considerably less experience, or in certain cases ability, is a difficult call. Beckham lacks fitness but brings skill and experience. Shaun Wright-Phillips possesses pace but delivers crosses that make the first defender look like a giant or reduce Crouch to the dimensions of a dwarf.

David Bentley and Ashley Young, while exciting prospects, may represent too much of a gamble in a game of this magnitude.

In Vienna last Friday, Beckham's performance did not so much encourage McClaren as cause him serious concern. He looked exactly like a player whose last game prior to the friendly with Austria was against members of Def Leppard and the Sex Pistols.

'After the game against Hollywood United I felt great,' said Beckham, which was not quite the same as saying he felt ready to return to international duty having just emerged from a gran clasico with the man-of-the-match cava.

After missing the best part of two months and four European Championship qualifiers with knee and ankle injuries, Beckham assured his new Los Angeles friends that he would not take any chances. 'I can't put myself up for England selection if I'm not 100 per cent fit, or at least 90 or 95 per cent,' he said. 'I wouldn't do that.' Even though he has in the past.

The temptation to select Beckham must nevertheless be enormous. Here, after all, is the midfielder who played a vital role in Rome 10 years ago when England qualified for to the 1998 World Cup with a goalless draw against Italy.

Who, almost single-handedly, led the team to the next World Cup with a performance against Greece memorable as much for his ubiquity at Old Trafford as that last-minute equalising free-kick.

In the absence of John Terry, Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, McClaren needs such experience to avoid becoming the first coach to fail when all England needed to qualify for a major tournament was a draw in their last game.

Beckham may lack the pace of younger rivals and the fitness to track back when Micah Richards makes one of his marauding runs down the right. But this is England's most important game since the last World Cup, the most important of McClaren's relatively brief but difficult reign and not one for taking too many chances.

Eventually Young, or perhaps even Theo Walcott, could emerge as the 32-year-old's long-term successor. For now, however, Beckham looks like edging ever closer to the 100-cap barrier.

Scott Carson is at the start of his international career and in Vienna on Friday a poor Austria team did not give him an opportunity to impress.

For the same reasons that will probably persuade McClaren to stick with Beckham, the England coach will be tempted to recall Paul

Robinson. Carson, after all, was making his international debut last week and has never, therefore, made a senior competitive appearance for his country.

After training on Monday, however, the players appeared increasingly confident that the 'awesome' Carson would keep his place and condemn the error-prone Robinson to the international wilderness.

Robinson did not help himself on Monday by having what was described in certain quarters as 'a stinker' at London Colney.

Robinson has had a number of stinkers in an England shirt and, while selecting the younger, inexperienced man would be courageous, McClaren would probably be taking an even bigger risk by sticking with the troubled Tottenham goalkeeper.

It might come as a surprise to Robinson if he is left out. According to certain sources McClaren broke the news to him of Carson's selection for Austria by assuring him he would be back for the more serious business of Croatia.

But Robinson's international team-mates are not so sure. They think Carson will get the nod. More than that, they hope he gets the nod.

In the 11 European qualifiers England have so far contested, McClaren has used 35 players. Carson would be his 36th but probably his last of the campaign if he goes with the 4-5-1 formation most now anticipate.

The formation would see Owen Hargreaves deployed as a holding midfielder and Crouch up front on his own.

For Crouch, it is an opportunity to be remembered for something other than that 'silly dance'. 'I feel fortunate to have had the chance to score in a World Cup,' said the likeable Liverpool forward.

'But I've not had many opportunities as an England player to make my mark in a really important game. Against Croatia I have that chance, and hopefully I can take it.'

Having Beckham on the same pitch would help.