I’ve earned my chance to walk tall, says Crouch

PETER CROUCH declared he had earned the right to be taken seriously as a striker as he set his sights on his first competitive start for England in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Austria.

Crouch has not scored since May 7, having failed to find the net in his first eight games for Liverpool, but is still set to replace the suspended Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford.

Just 15 months ago, he was sold by Aston Villa to Southampton for £2m less than half his price-tag two years earlier after just six goals in 43 games as David O'Leary failed to see his potential.