Thursday, 06 October 2005.
Click here to read the full transcription from Peter's press briefing
Peter Crouch believes he can bring something different to the England team if he is selected to face Austria on Saturday.
The Liverpool striker is hoping for his first home start for the Three Lions, especially as Wayne Rooney is missing through suspension. And he is looking to bring his own unique style to the fore.
His height means the former Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Southampton, Tottenham and QPR man is certain to be a threat in the air, but he is also good on the floor and an expert at bringing others into the game.
He said: "I think I’m a different type of player. I look at the strikers we’ve got, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent and they are all different to myself. They are sharper, smaller, quicker players and I think I definitely bring something different to the team. It’s definitely an option that we can use.
"Being so tall I’ve got to be an aerial threat and I like to think I am - and that’s obviously an asset of mine. But that’s not the only thing I’ve got. Hopefully I can show that I can play on the floor and use my touch and bring other people into play."
Crouch showed against Colombia in England's summer tour of the United States that he and Michael Owen can be a threat when paired together. And he would relish the chance to re-form the partnership at Old Trafford this weekend, especially after playing on his own up front for Liverpool this season.
He said: "I thought I did reasonably well out in the games in America.
"There’s a place available against Austria and I’m hopefully I’m the one to fill it but we have some good strikers here as well.
"Playing up front with someone of Michael’s calibre will only help my game and hopefully I can help his as well. I keep talking about the game in America but it’s the only time I have played with Michael Owen and I was involved in his goals and I felt it went well. Hopefully if selected it will be the same again."
Crouch has certainly taken the long route to the top, playing for several clubs before earning his big-money move to Liverpool and starting his England career.
But he always had confidence that he would get there in the end.
He said: "I always felt confident in my ability, if given a chance to play I thought I would take that chance and I managed to do that at Southampton last year.
"Now I’m being given an opportunity to play for England and I feel the same way, when my chance comes I’ll take it."
Click here to read the full transcription from Peter's press briefing