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Agbonlahor's electric pace and good form for Aston Villa so far this season - he has netted seven league goals already - saw him win his first call-up to the full squad ahead of next Wednesday's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.

And Collymore - a former Villa player himself - is in no doubt the Under-21 international has what it takes to cause a stir at senior level.

"I've seen him a lot this season," Collymore told eurosport.yahoo.com.

"He's not an out-and-out goalscorer but I think he can create problems in and around the box. You need pace at international level and he's got bags of it. He deserves this opportunity.

"We're not blessed at the moment with five or six English strikers who will score 20-25 goals a season. But if he can score goals early in his international career - like Peter Crouch - he can succeed in making the step up.

"I doubt he'll start the game, but he will benefit just from being in and around the squad."

He added: "There's nobody else that is screaming out to be selected at the moment. Dave Kitson was mentioned but he's been overlooked so this is a real chance for Agbonlahor to make an impression."

While Agbonlahor's inclusion in the 30-man squad came as no surprise, the exclusion of David Beckham may have caused a few raised eyebrows.

The former England skipper was hoping to win his 100th cap next week, but Capello, just like Steve McClaren before him, opted to overlook the LA Galaxy midfielder due to a lack of match practice.

Beckham now faces being left stranded on 99 caps, although Collymore believes the former Manchester United and Real Madrid man has what it takes to return once again.

"Looking at the midfield Capello has selected, the only thing that has gone against [Beckham] is that fact that he has not been playing," Collymore said.

"Shaun Wright-Philips and David Bentley are in better form than Beckham, but nevertheless he can class himself a little bit unfortunate.

"But such has been David Beckham's career, it would not surprise me if he made another comeback.

"If he does want an England career for a couple of years, then he'll have to come back to play in Europe. Realistically that is the only way it will happen."

Mike Hytner / Eurosport