OWEN HARGREAVES' withdrawal from the England squad ahead of tonight's crucial European Championships qualifier with Russia has made one of Steve McClaren's selection dilemmas easy.

The other, however, is not that simple. The Peter Crouch and Emile Heskey debate will rumble on well after the final whistle has blown at Wembley tonight.

Had Hargreaves recovered from the thigh strain that kept him out of Saturday's comfortable win over Israel, he should have walked straight back in.

Gareth Barry performed competently in the defensive midfield role, but it's a job he is not usually accustomed to.

Hargreaves, on the other hand, is one of the best in the world at sitting deep and has proven himself at the hub of the midfield for Bayern Munich, England and now Manchester United.

And while Barry has refreshingly shown he is a better option in the middle alongside Steven Gerrard than Frank Lampard, Hargreaves' recall should be certain by the time Estonia visit on October 13.

Who will be playing up front on that occasion is anyone's guess. Although the fact that Heskey took the chance to resurrect his international career with both hands against Israel suggests it could be him.

Given how Crouch is back from a one-match suspension, there will be those who will argue that the Liverpool man should be instantly drafted back into the England attack. But why?

During the course of the last 18 months, the unfashionable bean pole has taken huge strides but he is no longer in a position where he can command a place in Rafael Benitez's first team.

And while it may not look as appealing to boast a striker from Wigan Athletic spearheading the attack of the national team, at least Heskey is performing week in and week out; showing the sort of form that made him an international in the first place.

There is no hiding from the fact that Heskey's goal tally for his country does not reflect well. From 44 caps he has only scored five times.

Neither does the belief that he tends to go missing in matches when he has been given a rough ride by those marking him on the international stage - which could be on the agenda from the Russians tonight.

But Heskey at least deserves the opportunity to continue in the sort of manner which brought the best out of Michael Owen against Israel.

Owen has openly admitted that his former Liverpool team-mate - who were paired together on that memorable night in Munich in 2001 - is the man he prefers to play with.

And while Crouch, whose scoring record is far superior with 12 goals in 20 caps, can quite rightly argue he has done little to justify losing his place, tonight is about making the choice that is more likely to work.

Heskey and Owen has worked before and worked again on Saturday. Tonight is another occasion when the pairing should be given the opportunity.

With Wayne Rooney out, the need for Owen to fire is more prevalent than ever. And his record in fixtures when he has started alongside Heskey speaks for itself.

His delightful strike against Israel was the 12th in 13 internationals when he has had Heskey as his foil.

If he can continue in similar vein tonight, England's hopes of qualification will have risen to a new level under McClaren.

Heskey is the answer for now, let the arguing commence again when Rooney returns to fitness.