West Brom boss Alan Pardew is backing Jay Rodriguez to gatecrash England's World Cup squad.

Pardew believes his striker — after destroying Liverpool in the FA Cup — is showing the sort of form to catapult him back into the England squad.

TV pundit Steven Gerrard insisted after Saturday night's upset at Anfield that Rodriguez is back to the level that won him a cap in 2013, when he was a Southampton player.

And Baggies boss Pardew added: “It's nice of Steven to say that. Jay is definitely starting to find his feet.

“I don't know if he is at that level yet, but if he plays like that until the end of the season then he is going to have a shout of getting into that England squad.

“He was terrific against Liverpool. He's got that ability to produce a class finish. He has an assured confidence which I like about him.

“He doesn't get flustered or frustrated, and he deserved the man of the match award."