Liverpool striker Peter Crouch knows he has a “good chance” of making the England World Cup squad after a productive season on Merseyside.

The 6’7" (1.98m) target-man has emerged as Sven Goran Eriksson's third choice striker in the England set-up, behind Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, and barring injury or a terrible run of form seems guaranteed a ticket to Germany in June.

With Michael Owen currently struggling with injury there is an outside chance Crouch may start the first game against Paraguay on June 10, although the Newcastle striker is expected to partner Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney at the forefront of the Three Lions attack.

Over the past twelve months Crouch has grown to be a prominent member of the squad, and the former Southampton forward says he is confident of making the trip after having been praised by Eriksson.

“It's a boost of course, if the manager is speaking highly of you then you have got a good chance,” said Crouch.

“My manager at Liverpool (Rafa Benitez) believes in me and the England manager as well, so it's obviously good for me at this moment in time.

“Every England player at the moment is desperate to be involved in the World Cup, I'm no different.

“I want to be involved, hopefully if the form is good, I've been in the last couple of squads, hopefully I can keep that going.”

Despite the concerns over Owen's fitness - with the Newcastle striker still recovering from a metatarsal injury, but still hoping to play one or two games before the season's conclusion - Crouch says the England squad are hopeful their talismanic striker will return to top form in time.

“If we are going to do well in the World Cup, we all feel we can do well, you need your best players,” Crouch added.

“Obviously Michael is one of our best players, we hope he's fit for the World Cup and I'm sure he will be.

“Of course throughout my career I've played with that sort of striker, it seems to work well but there are a lot of players fighting for places, it'll be interesting and hopefully we can do well.”

England have been drawn in Group B in the World Cup Finals, alongside Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay and Sweden.

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