Crouch should partner Rooney at the World Cup, says hero Hurst

Sir Geoff Hurst wants Peter Crouch to partner Wayne Rooney at the World Cup.

Crouch scored twice in England's 3-1 win against Egypt at Wembley in midweek to take his tally to 20 goals in 37 matches for his country.

Hurst, who scored the only hat-trick in a World Cup final when England lifted the trophy in 1966, hit the target 24 times in 49 internationals and insists Crouch is the right man.

Hurst said: "You need as a front player to score one in two over your career and Peter's England record now is getting very close to mine.

“He'll be pushing me down the 'Goals for England' league table."

Hurst believes England manager Fabio Capello might even employ a Plan B with Rooney playing up front as a lone striker, as he has done at Manchester United this season, with Steven Gerrard supporting him.

But he has concerns over England’s ability to shut up shop at the back.

"It is a worry," he said. "We need a fairly settled back four as soon as we possibly can.

“When one or two key players get injured in certain areas we do look a little bit thin on the ground."

Hurst reckons manager Fabio Capello has been the right man at the right time for England and has brought an attitude of top-level professionalism to the players.

"He has made a fantastic difference. We are starting to see a team and a group of people who are as well prepared as they possibly can be and that's all we really can hope for as a national side.

"Fabio's decision quickly to remove John Terry of the captaincy but still keep him in the team was just about right.

“Those who wanted Terry to be scrapped completely from the England side probably were overreacting a bit.

"We've got to keep this in perspective. If we removed everybody in seniority that committed adultery we probably wouldn't have anybody running the country."

Click here to see classic unseen pictures of Sir Geoff in our amazing football archive