Crouch set to spend more time on the bench

The Liverpool striker was given just 13 minutes to make an impression in Athens last week, but his international prospects appear even bleaker after McClaren telegraphed his intentions in training on Tuesday.

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Bibs are bad news as far as the England team is concerned and when coach Steve Round tossed one in the direction of Crouch in the morning, it appeared that a place on the bench is the best he can hope for.

McClaren is mulling over an Alan Smith-Michael Owen axis for next Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia, but he is erring on the side of caution when football's equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters arrive in town.

It seems incredible to think that Owen, who has missed most of the season with a serious knee injury, will be asked to play as a lone striker against Brazil, but it is a possibility after McClaren took the players through their paces at London Colney.

Wayne Rooney played as a lone striker against Portugal at the World Cup, and it proved a disaster. Getting the ball off the Brazilians is hard enough, but watching Owen scurrying across their back four at Wembley will be an almighty mistake.

Owen was patently not match fit when he appeared for the B team in the 3-1 victory over Albania last Friday and the turn of pace that once marked him out as one of Europe's finest forwards appears to have deserted him.

Whichever formation McClaren chooses in the next 48 hours, Crouch loses out, and the Liverpool striker will have a lot longer for self-assessment as he whiles away the hours at England's plush hotel on the outskirts of Watford.

Although his omission can hardly be considered a fall from grace, he has certainly fallen out of favour with the management.

Crouch scored five times in McClaren's first three games in charge, and his winning goal against Macedonia last September appeared to cement his place in the side.

Back then, goals were Crouch's currency, but that was until the return of Rooney.

McClaren has made it clear that Rooney and Owen are his preferred strikeforce, but they have yet to play together under him.

The England head coach has tried five different partnerships in nine games in charge, but Crouch is the only player who can boast a respectable goalscoring record.

The Liverpool striker has scored 23 times in all competitions this season and that is more than any other forward in this company.

He began the season by leaving John Terry staring into space when he scored the winner for Liverpool in the Community Shield and followed it up with seven goals in his next five games.

Like any striker, Crouch thrives on confidence but life on the fringes of England's first XI is no life for a Liverpool forward.

He has been assured by Rafael Benitez that he has a future at Anfield but, just like others who have sacrificed their summers for the chance to play for England, he is on the periphery.

Jermain Defoe scored twice against Andorra in September but the Spurs striker has slipped so far down the pecking order it is a wonder he is still reporting for international duty.

Andy Johnson may be injured but it is a mystery why McClaren has overlooked Preston striker David Nugent, who made his mark by scoring on his debut as a substitute against Andorra.

He was left on the bench during last Friday's B game and omitted completely from the squad preparing for two games that will shape McClaren's future.

He may not be the only striker to feel left out. After two days with the England side, Crouch does not appear to be part of it.