England manager Steve McClaren has hinted he will return to his leading scorer Peter Crouch to partner Michael Owen in attack against Estonia on Wednesday.

The towering Liverpool striker has scored five goals in six starts since McClaren took over and the experiment with Alan Smith up front against Brazil was perhaps the only failure in a successful night for England.

Victory is the only option for England - Saturday's results in the other Euro 2008 qualifiers mean they trail Croatia by five points and both Israel and Russia by three in Group E.

Estonia may have failed to notch up a point or even a goal but the match in Tallinn now assumes crucial importance, and with Wayne Rooney suspended it seems certain that McClaren will return to Crouch - especially with the striker's record of being a 'flat-track bully' to football's smaller nations.

Asked about Crouch, McClaren said: "We will have to see. As I said before the Brazil game that wasn't necessarily the team for Estonia.

"We'll have to look at certain things and digest it and it may be different."

McClaren believes his players still have a lot to prove after their defeat in Croatia and draw in Israel which climaxed in a hostile reception in their last Euro 2008 qualifying outing against Andorra.

He added: "We have to perform as we are because of the reception that we got in Israel and against Andorra, we have got a lot to prove.

"It's small steps, the B game (against Albania) was encouraging, the Brazil game was encouraging but we are not yet near the capabilities of what we can do.

"They are all important games. Some teams you have to go to and win that game - we had to in Andorra.

"What we have to do is focus on getting the same level of performance, attitude, discipline and organisation.

"We'll create chances with the players we have got.

"I've seen Estonia play against quite a few teams and it's been quite open, they try and play good football. Maybe they will drop right back, who knows, but whatever we come up against we have to make sure we can counter it."

McClaren insists though that the pressure is not getting to him, even if defeat would mean the sack. He also stopped short of saying the players had responded to a wake-up call with their performance against Brazil.

He said: "No, I have never really felt that pressure - I have a great belief in these players and when they come together as a team they are a very, very good team.

"We emphasised the amount of challenges, tackles, responsibility and discipline and individual flexibility.

"We have emphasised that and when you have got that, you're a team and we need to keep that.

"We talked about it after Andorra and Israel that we have to play as a team. We have great individuals but we have to play as a team."

In terms of tactics, England will certainly be much more attack-minded than they were against Brazil with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard taking it turns to launch runs - McClaren believes it is "a myth" they cannot play together in central midfield - and the full-backs given more licence to push forward down the flanks.

David Beckham's place in the team is completely secure - despite England assistant boss Terry Venables saying it is "immaterial" whether or not he agreed with McClaren's decision to recall the former captain.

Beckham showed on Friday night the value he can add to the team - and his inclusion should provide more ammunition for Crouch.

Venables said: "Most of the time we are in agreement - occasionally we are not. I supported the decision Steve made with regard to Beckham last August but I can understand bringing him back. Whether I agree or not is immaterial.

"My job is to give a straight answer, when asked. What Steve does with that opinion is up to him, and from there we all work with what he has decided. He is the boss."

McClaren has been convinced that the 32-year-old midfielder is much improved from last year's World Cup.

He said: "He certainly looks fitter and stronger than I've seen him for a long time.

"(Real Madrid coach) Fabio Capello has said he has not looked so fit as he does now for two years."