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Dean Ashton looks set to be called up to the England squad following an impressive return to form after missing last season with an ankle injury.
Steve McClaren will name his squad to face Estonia and Russia on Friday and there are doubts over the fitness and form of many of his leading strikers.
Ashton, 23, has scored three goals in his last four games for West Ham.
"He has forced his way in," said McClaren. "He certainly comes into consideration."
England play Estonia at Wembley on 13 October and travel to Russia for a potentially decisive Group E Euro 2008 qualifier four days later.
With doubts surrounding the fitness of Michael Owen after surgery over the weekend and Emile Heskey sidelined with a broken metatarsal, in-form Ashton could have a role to play.
"I have been watching Ashton from pre-season onwards," said McClaren.
"It was very disappointing about the injury at the start of last season with England."
However, Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch are available again after injury and suspension respectively - and McClaren has not given up on the possibility of Owen playing.
"At the present moment Michael is not out," he told BBC 5live.
"We'll liaise with Newcastle to make sure that he is OK and hopefully he can join up with us and we'll take it from there."
Newcastle striker Owen, 27, underwent stomach surgery in Germany and is recovering from a torn abductor muscle in his groin.
McClaren added that he would contact skipper John Terry to check his progress after he fractured his cheekbone.
10-03-2007, 01:14 AM
Arise, comrades! England v Estonia & Russia v England *match spoilers, and McClaren turning out to be not that bad after all* Post #3
Owen Hargreaves has been ruled out of October's European Championship qualifiers against Estonia and Russia because of a knee injury.
The Manchester United midfielder will be out of action for up to four weeks after having an injection to cure a tendonitis problem.
Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "That was an option we had from the very start if it surfaced again.
"He felt it in training so we decided to do something immediately."
The news means that England coach Steve McClaren could stick with the central midfield partnership of Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry for the games on October 13 and 17.
McClaren is also monitoring injuries to captain John Terry (cheekbone) and striker Michael Owen (hernia). England will definitely be without Emile Heskey because of a broken metatarsal.
Hargreaves was expected to be back in United's squad for Tuesday's Champions League game against AS Roma before the tendonitis problem returned.
The former Bayern Munich player was troubled by the injury at the start of the season and did not play his first game for United until August 19.
And the 26-year-old managed just three games before sustaining a thigh injury in training with England ahead of their game against Israel on September 8.
10-03-2007, 01:14 AM
Arise, comrades! England v Estonia & Russia v England *match spoilers, and McClaren turning out to be not that bad after all* Post #4
Originally posted by Cappo Smiffy:
I have both days booked off work like a good little Englander :thup:
Am I right in thinking Heskey is definately out of the first game, probably out of the second?
Crouch, Owen & Rooney all available.
Pretty sure Heskey's not going to be available for either - I wasn't expecting him to be named in the squad at all. But good news about Owen... looks as if he might make it after all, certainly for the 2nd game
10-03-2007, 01:21 AM
Arise, comrades! England v Estonia & Russia v England *match spoilers, and McClaren turning out to be not that bad after all* Post #8
Oh ffs not another ***** England match not sure i'll be able to cope with watching Rotherham play ***** on the Friday night at Brentford and then see England play ***** against Estonia.
Ashton to start though :cool:
10-03-2007, 01:38 AM
Arise, comrades! England v Estonia & Russia v England *match spoilers, and McClaren turning out to be not that bad after all* Post #10
Arise, comrades! England v Estonia & Russia v England *match spoilers, and McClaren turning out to be not that bad after all* 
not sure i'll be able to cope with watching Rotherham play ***** on the Friday night at Brentford and then see England play ***** against Estonia.
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