Crouch: Pompey helped England chances

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Crouch was in and out of the team at Liverpool and, even though he is no longer playing in the Champions League, his efforts at Fratton Park earned him an England recall and he took advantage of Emile Heskey's injury in April to score against Ukraine.

"He (Capello) did tell me he would prefer me to be playing all the time," Crouch said. "I felt I had to make a big decision really to play every week."

Crouch continued: "Obviously at Liverpool we played more high profile games in the Champions League. When I was at Liverpool I felt I'd get half the games I played this year but they were quite often big games.

"But I feel I made the right choice going to Portsmouth as I've played every Premier League game this year and I've enjoyed my football.

"I think (Capello) would prefer me to be at a high profile club playing every week. But that wasn't the case at the time."

Crouch admits he would probably be an automatic choice for Capello if he was built like Didier Drogba - because his scoring record cannot be faulted.

Crouch has 13 goals in 15 international starts and has added another two strikes as a substitute, but he has still been behind Heskey in the pecking order.

"I think it would help," Crouch said. "If anyone had the physical presence of Drogba it would certainly help your game.

"Because I'm not the obvious-looking striker, people perceive things. I am different. But I accept that and feel I've done well when called upon and I'll continue to do that regardless of other people's perception."