Fabio Capello today revealed that he warned Dean Ashton he must lose weight if he wants to further his England career.

Ashton was out for 18 months after breaking an ankle in an England training session but is now fully fit and has been impressive for West Ham in pre-season.

England play the Czech Republic in a friendly a week tomorrow and Capello is expected to include the striker in the squad when it is announced on Saturday.

But the coach today said that he delivered an ultimatum to Ashton to shed some weight during the summer. The 24-year-old played in England's last game against Trinidad & Tobago but ahead of the May friendly Capello and his medical staff apparently asked Ashton to shed two kilos in weight. "We followed Dean in a lot of games last season and he was very good but he had injury problems before that," said Capello.

"He has since told me he is fit now. I spoke with him in Trinidad and I told him he had to lose weight and be better physically because technically he is good but he is not quick."

Meanwhile, another England striker, Theo Walcott, has been backed to make a big impression this season.

Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole believes the 19-year-old is ready to shine for Arsenal and has tipped Walcott to force his way into Capello's plans.

"I was really impressed with the way Theo Walcott finished the season," said Cole. "If people aren't demanding he's in the England team, they're writing him off.

"But I think he'll develop into a world-class player if people just give him some space to express himself."