Crouch buoyed by Rooney's return

Peter Crouch is relishing the chance to renew his partnership with Wayne Rooney when England play Macedonia in a Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday.

The Liverpool forward is tipped to play alongside Rooney, who is back for the Group E match following a three-match suspension for the red card he received in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.

Crouch has scored 11 goals in 14 starts for England and five in three games under coach Steve McClaren.

"Every time I have played alongside Wayne I have enjoyed it because he is a creative player and that can only be good for me," Crouch told reporters on Wednesday.

"He is comfortable dropping off and wants the ball all the time. With him doing that, I can hold a high line and get into the box and get on the end of things."

Rooney has not scored a competitive goal for England since Euro 2004 and his form for Manchester United this season has been below par but Crouch believes the talisman forward deserves his expected instant recall to the England side.

"He is a top, top talent. People are making a big thing about a couple of games when he hasn't been at his best," Crouch said. "But you have to remember how young he is and it's only been a couple of games.

"When he is not scoring goals, he gives the team so much anyway, and it's only a matter of time before he scores again."

Stuart Downing, meanwhile, believes he can hang onto a place in McClaren's team when Joe Cole, the player he has replaced on the left wing, returns from injury.

"I back myself and I'm confident in my own ability to fight for a place with Joe Cole or anyone else," Downing said.