England vs Macedonia

Following his enforced absence form England's last three matches, the enfant terrible, Wayne Rooney, is set to return to the fray for his country in the their Euro 2008 qualifier against Macedonia at Old Trafford on Saturday when he will partner Peter Crouch. McClaren has hinted that Rooney's lack of form having missed so much football in the past six moths through injury and suspension is a concern. But he knows that Rooney will eventually turn things round and the young striker has an ideal opportunity to restore his confidence in what should be a relatively straightforward task for the Three Lions against the Macedonians. Both Hargreaves and Lennon are on the easy list, which led McClaren to try and tempt Paul Scholes out of international retirement, a bold bid which didn't come off, but Newcastle skipper Scott Parker looks set for a recall to fill the midfield void. England's 1-0 victory over Macedonia in September 6 wasn't the most visually enthralling of performances, but it was always going to be hard to out-muscle their rivals in the lion's den that is Skopje. However, back on more familiar terrain, a far more commanding display should ensue. Indeed, McClaren's men are a top-priced 1/10 with expekt in the match result market, odds which are indicative of the level of expectation surrounding them - anything other than an emphatic will be frowned upon. And this match should act as just the tonic ahead of what looks set to be a far sterner test of England's credentials against Croatia in Zagreb next week. It's amazing what a change of management can do. Although England have yet to face any opponents of any great substance thus far (Greece were below par in their friendly encounter), there is clearly a greater level of Cohesion within the ranks and, defensively, they look as solid as a rock. Although Rooney could easily explode back on the scene and make this game his own, Crouch remains England's most lethal weapon when it comes to delivering an end product at present, and he has scored a total of five goals in his last three matches for England. Despite being out-of-favour at Liverpool at present with Benitez tending to opt to pair Bellamy and Kuyt up front, the ex-Southampton man is not the sort of player to be affected mentally, as he demonstrated when picked for Pool's Champions League tie with Galatasaray, a game in which he scored a brace. Paddy Power have formed a player to score 2+ market, and they go 7/2 about Crouch which, to my mind, looks a steal. If McClaren does opt to play Gerrard down the right flank - and one imagines he will - his crosses will provide excellent ammunition for the one-man tower that is Crouch, and he'll give the Macedonians a torrid time. I don't find it hard to envisage him scoring twice at least. There's an awful long way to for Euro 2008 but everything is, as they say in Houston "looking good". Verdict - 2pts Peter Crouch in the player to score 2+ market @ 7/2 (Paddy Power)