West Ham United striker Dean Ashton is ready to fill the England breach left by crocked Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.

Ashton told the Daily Mirror: "One of my targets is to get back to get back where I was in the England squad and making a start for my country is a massive dream of mine, especially after the year I have had.

"I want to be the main striker for England. That's my goal. The plan is to play well for West Ham, score goals and put it into Steve McClaren's mind that I'm there and hopefully playing well enough to give him a hard decision.

"There's no big striker (in the England set-up) who can hold the ball up, run in behind and link up play. That's where I'd like to think I could do a job for England."