Defoe: The Cap fits

Defoe came off the bench in Amsterdam on Wednesday night to transform the friendly with Holland, with a double strike in a 2-2 draw.

"Jermain is one of the best English forwards," said Capello. "He can shoot with the left and right foot. He is very fast and his movement without the ball is fantastic."

Staring at certain defeat following the woeful errors from Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Barry, Defoe's half-time introduction triggered a complete about-turn in English fortunes. In scoring twice in Amsterdam to seal a draw with a side that has already booked its place at South Africa 2010, Defoe took his recent tally to four goals in two games and nine altogether under Capello. And the Italian is clearly impressed by Defoe's overall contribution.

"He always goes towards the goal and technically, he is excellent," added Capello.

Certainly Defoe has done more than enough to justify his inclusion in Capello's squad. If he maintains his present form, it is difficult to see the 26-year-old being left out when the England squad for the World Cup is named next May no matter how great the clamour for Michael Owen's inclusion.

The same could also be said of Peter Crouch. For if Owen and Defoe would appear to be battling it out for a single place on the plane, Crouch is in direct competition with Carlton Cole for the right to act as understudy to first-choice front-man Emile Heskey.

Defoe might have found the net on Wednesday night but Cole was equally impressive. One volley he sent whistling wide of the Dutch goal came after a neat piece of trickery few thought him capable of.

And Capello has confirmed he will continue picking players on the evidence provided by his own eyes and those of his trusted assistants rather than the headlines that will plead on behalf of Owen and Crouch.

"I will choose the players who are in the best form at that time," he stressed. "I saw Carlton Cole for West Ham against Napoli and I chose him because I could see he was in fantastic form."