Dean Ashton wants to make his England debut against Trinidad and Tobago to prove he is a better striker than two years ago.The 24-year-old was on the verge of earning a first cap in 2006 but suffered a broken ankle in training on the eve of the friendly against Greece, ruling him out for a year.

He has struggled with injuries this season too but finished the campaign on a high with three goals in his last three games taking his tally to 11 and earning a place in Fabio Capello's squad.

Capello left the former Crewe player on the bench against USA but Ashton could feature at Hasely Crawford Stadium on Sunday and is desperate to impress after his injury misery at the start of last season.

"It is gutting to think two years have gone by since then," said Ashton.

"You can't really sum it up. It's gone very quickly and I missed out on a whole year when perhaps I could have played well against Greece and been in the squad from then on.

"I feel I have a point to prove and obviously I'll be working as hard as anyone to get my place.

"In the latter part of the season with my goals and the way I played I've shown that is all behind me and I'm back to the player I was, maybe better with the mental side of it.

"You have to be strong mentally to get back to this position. If I get my chance I'll be strong enough to take it."

Ashton offers Capello a targetman in attack and the striker feels he can offer an alternative to raw pace.

"I don't think Teddy Sheringham had electric pace, I like to think my pace I have is in my brain and the way I play and hopefully that is enough," he said.

"I'm not particularly slow. I'm not as quick as Gabriel Agbonlahor and players like that but there are quite a few of them about."

Ashton has been encouraged by Capello selecting players from outside the top four clubs in the Premier League and with seven players from the Champions League final rested, there is potential for an unfamiliar line-up this weekend.

"The manager has shown so far that it doesn't matter where you've been in the past, it's what you are doing at the time," he said.

"The players in the Champions League are obviously more likely to play but if I can play well enough for my club and get my chance here I believe I can show that I'm good enough.

"We're constantly hearing that there are no good English players about but I beg to differ, sometimes it takes being given a chance to impress."

Goalkeeper Joe Lewis is not only out of the top four but has also playing for Morecambe and Peterborough in League Two this season.

Lewis thought his call-up was due to forgetting his computer during a recent game with the under-21s, but he wants to seize his chance and has also been encouraged by former Norwich team-mate Robert Green, who has been in impressive form for West Ham but overlooked.

"I left my laptop with the under-21s and got a text message from one of the administrators asking if I got it back," Lewis said. "They also said 'by the way are you in the country?'

"I got a phone call back to meet up with the England squad. It was the right place at the right time and I'll take it anyway I can.

"Luckily I hadn't planned a holiday and wasn't abroad at the time, and I find myself here now enjoying every minute of it."

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