Sven's latter-day Saint as Crouch gets England call
Eriksson has already effectively decided on three of his likely World Cup forwards - Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe.
However, there is at least one place still up for grabs, with Crouch, Andrew Johnson and Alan Smith getting having a chance to press their claims after being selected for the mini-tour to the USA.
Johnson has been promised the chance to start one of the two games up front, rather than on to the right flank as he was on his debut as a substitute against Holland in February.
Crouch, 24, meanwhile, is one of the more unlikely recipients of an England call-up, benefiting from Rooney's absence after scoring 16 goals amid Southampton's relegation battle this season.
Eriksson declared: "When you go into a big tournament, you should have one big striker. I will look at Peter Crouch to see if he's good enough. For sure, he's very different.
"I know already what Emile Heskey can do, while Jermain Defoe and Alan Smith will also be coming to the US.
"I'm going to have another look at Andrew Johnson and maybe let him play up front. I will not play him on the right wing again.
"But if you are trying everything in the last 15 minutes as you can't break the opposition, then maybe you could put on Peter Crouch.
"If you put the ball up there, he will win it and his touch is not bad at all. I didn't know that much about him before this season, although I had seen him play for the U-21s."
Crouch, who is suspended for Southampton's final league of the season against Manchester United this weekend, declared himself to be "thrilled" by his call-up.
He added: "The England call is a great honour and I just hope it becomes a double celebration with us staying up on Sunday."
Crouch and Johnson could find their clubs relegated by the time they travel to the US, although Eriksson pledged they could still remain part of the England set-up.
"I have done it before with David James at West Ham. If they're good enough, then yes," he insisted.
Crouch was not the only newcomer to the 22-man squad named for the two-game tour, with Liverpool's emerging keeper Scott Carson receiving a first call-up.
He will not join the tour until after the Champions League final, although Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher will miss both England games.
Ledley King yesterday joined the absentee list, which includes Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Frank Lampard, Kieron Dyer and Paul Robinson.
David Beckham, Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves will also arrive after the first game against the US on May 28 in time for the second fixture against Colombia three days later.
That means Michael Carrick could start the opening match in central midfield alongside Jermaine Jenas.
SEE Results section for squad.
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