OPPOSITES: Heskey is a tower of power but has scored just five goals for England. -- PHOTO: AP

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And Owen Hargreaves' thigh injury has spared England coach Steve McClaren from making a tough decision.

Hargreaves was also unfit when the Three Lions defeated Israel 3-0 on Saturday.

Then, up stepped reserve Gareth Barry, who came to the rescue with a five-star performance in central midfield.

Admittedly, McClaren had turned an injury crisis into a positive outcome, even though it seemed more like a stroke of fortune.

Now, the coach has another important call to make: Emile Heskey or Peter Crouch.

It is no secret that decision-making is not McClaren's forte.

Heskey was recalled after more than three years in the international wilderness.

Although ridiculed for his poor first touch and woeful finishing, the Wigan striker emerged from the Israel game with plenty of credit.

A tower of power, the 29-year-old target man was the focal point of England's delivery.

This impressive physical specimen was an outlet for the midfield quartet, who found him with a succession of direct balls from the centre and crosses from the flanks.

But is Heskey the man to break down a Russian defence that have been beaten just once in eight Group E qualifiers?

No.

Crouch, another man with his fair share of critics, deserves his place.

Standing at more than two metres tall with long, spidery limbs, he does not look anything like an international-class striker.

But, like Heskey, he is adept at playing Michael Owen through with cushion headers and flicks.

The Liverpool forward is blessed with a delicate touch that kills high balls instantly or mesmerises a marker with sleight of foot.

And he has been able to reply his critics with goals. Lots of goals.

Twelve goals in 20 caps and four strikes in five 2008 European Championship qualifiers is an impressive output for the much-maligned character, while Heskey is still stuck on five in 44 England games.

Crouch is the one and only consistent scorer on McClaren's roster. To ignore him would be folly.

If England are to trouble Russia with more than just the direct ball, they have to play football on the deck, where Crouch can play a big part.

While a tactical headache has appeared, another solved itself as Hargreaves failed a late fitness test.

So Barry is almost certain to start. With only a handful of club games in central midfield, the Aston Villa captain dovetailed seamlessly with Steven Gerrard and saved his coach's skin.

Having a natural left foot meant that he stayed out of Gerrard's way.

Yet, competent though Barry is, he is not bestowed with the gifts to stifle unbeaten Russia.

He circulates the ball rapidly, sensibly and accurately.

But he is no Hargreaves, who has been one of England's best players since his tour de force in last year's World Cup.

Hargreaves has the lungs needed to hunt for the ball and he is not afraid to get stuck in. Like Barry, he has the good sense to prop Gerrard up in midfield.

Unfortunately, the Manchester United player will not be available.

Meanwhile, Russia breezed to a 3-0 win over Macedonia over the weekend using a 4-3-1-2 system, a variation of Guus Hiddink's favoured 4-3-3.

The team are built around Andrei Arshavin, an exquisite playmaker who plays in the hole behind the front two and has chipped in with three goals and four assists in the qualification campaign.

With three central midfielders backing the Zenit St Petersburg schemer, there is no doubt that the Russians will form a phalanx and attempt to overwhelm England in the middle.

Add to that the superb standards of physical fitness that Hiddink's teams typically possess, England will have to be on their toes.

It will be a tough assignment for Barry. His sterling service against the Israelis is appreciated, but he has to run at Hargreaves' hysterical pace if he is to impose himself on the visitors.

Hiddink cut his teeth in management with well-defined tactics, sound judgement and squeezing every last drop of effort out of his players.

He should have been given the England job on account of his outstanding work with South Korea and Australia.

Instead, Russia are now profiting from his golden touch as they lie second in Group E, two points behind leaders Croatia and one point ahead of England.

In contrast, the England coach has been wishy-washy in his selections. Without Hargreaves, he is already at a disadvantage in the midfield battle.

Still, Crouch can salvage the situation up front.The question is: Has the coach seen it?

meng@sph.com.sg

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