MIDDLESBROUGH goal-hero Ugo Ehiogu believes finding the net more often will force him back into Sven Goran Eriksson's England plans.

The 29-year-old centre-back, who scored his first of the season in Boro's 1-0 FA Cup success over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, was left out of Eriksson's last squad who faced Holland last week.

And after hitting the winner against Rovers at the Riverside, Ehiogu admits he needs to make as many headlines as possible if he is going to force his way onto the plane to this summer's World Cup.

"I need to raise my profile and that means clean sheets and scoring the occasional goal - long may it continue," said Ehiogu, who has three caps and one goal for his country.

"I want to promote myself, keep in the news, that's the way I can get back in.

"I've been unlucky, injured at key times and that has cost me.

"I've got to get into the frame and be seen to be doing things a little bit extraordinary to get back.

"I'm looking to score goals every two or three games. Maybe scoring in this round, the quarter-final, the semi-final and the final certainly. That'll get me in the news.

"Football is about scoring goals and it's always nice to get off the mark. And it was even better to score in the 87th minute when your opponents have little time to get back at you."

Ehiogu, who started his career as a centre-forward when he was at West Brom, has played just three games since December 29 after suffering a groin injury.

And the £8m capture from Aston Villa, whose side take on Fulham at home tomorrow night, knows that played a part in him not being selected for England last week.

However, after a convincing display against Blackburn, Ehiogu has now set his sights on reaching the impressive form he knows he is capable of.

"It was pleasing to manage the Blackburn front-line so well because they are a handful," said the Hackney-born stopper, who is still hoping to reach the goal-scoring target he set himself in pre-season.

"We kept them to very few chances, I suppose it's a feather in my cap keeping someone like Andy Cole quiet.

"To win is the icing on the cake. Yes, it's the first goal of the season and it's taken a long, long time. I'm just happy it came and it came from Gareth's cross which we have been working on in training.

"Usually I get five or six goals a season, I should get them and maybe I still can.

"The service has been reasonably good but being the biggest in the team I usually get the biggest man marking me. That creates space for others.

"We have kept another clean sheet and that can only breed confidence and that's good for the Fulham game.

"I would say six or seven games ago did not look pretty but the last three or four we have created."

Meanwhile, Boro manager Steve McClaren has stood by his decision to select Mark Schwarzer ahead of Mark Crossley in goal. Crossley has been in outstanding form for the Teessiders while standing in for Schwarzer during his time out injured.

The Australian has not played since the 5-1 victory over Derby County, but Crossley's displays have meant Boro have not missed their first-choice keeper.

And McClaren, whose decision was received with boos at the Riverside, said: "Obviously Mark Crossley was very disappointed.

"It was the toughest decision I have had to make here. I have got two excellent keepers who both perform and that makes it difficult.

"But I always have a principle of Schwarzer being the No 1 and that's why he came in."

The decision could now backfire on McClaren, however, with Crossley rumoured to be considering handing in a transfer request.

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