Fallen star Kutuzov has point to prove

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The 28-year-old was considered the long-term heir to Andriy Shevchenko when AC Milan signed him from BATE Borisov in 2001.

Kutuzov arrived in Italy boasting a record of 55 goals in just 99 games for the Belarus side but he was a virtual spectator at the San Siro playing just two games in three years.

Since then he has forged a solid career in Europe, enjoying loan spells with Sporting Lisbon and Sampdoria as well as Parma, where he now plays.

Although he has struggled to force his way into the Parma team, the Serie B side have a new manager with Francesco Guidolin replacing Luigi Cagni and the World Cup qualifier gives Kutuzov the chance to show his boss what he can do. Parma spokesman Gabriele Majo is convinced the forward, who scored 12 goals in 37 internationals, can pose England problems.

"He is the classic support striker," said Majo. "He prefers to play on the shoulder of the main striker, and he is powerful and quick. He has the characteristics to make the England defence work hard.

"He is not someone who will be the life and soul of the party, but he speaks Italian reasonably well. He is a very dedicated, serious player, and he is very considerate.

"Because of injuries, he has still not had the chance to show what he can do, so if he does well in the national team, I am sure he will be taken into consideration by the new manager.

"With a new manager in place at Parma, everything has changed, and every player is in the same position. Vitali can do himself a favour by playing well against England."

Kutuzov has scored against England before, in a 'B' international at Reading shortly before the 2006 World Cup. He profited from Robert Green's mis-hit goal-kick to help his team win 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

Belarus coach Bernd Stange hopes his team can pull off another victory tonight and build on the feelgood factor in his country's football. The side are at their highest FIFA ranking, 57th, and beat Holland 2-1 last year before friendly draws with Germany and Argentina.

Stange said: "Football in Belarus is now booming. We have a run for football. Usually we had just 2,000 or 3,000 in the stadiums and it was not good. But now the crowds are coming to the stadium."