While the fans concentrate on getting one over on the old enemy, national team boss Steve McClaren is under pressure to fill the void up front left by injury to Wayne Rooney.

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch will miss out as he is suspended for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel next month, although he is available to tackle Russia four days later, and Spurs frontman Darren Bent has already withdrawn.

With Andrew Johnson also now rated a major doubt and Michael Owen playing less than half a game for Newcastle at the weekend after finally shrugging off injury, McClaren's options appear limited.

But a look at the new Actim Index shows the England manager may have more options available than he thinks.

Forgotten man Emile Heskey is the top-ranked English striker on this season's Index.

The rejuvenated Wigan star sits in 20th place overall and was named in the Actim team of the week after earning 50 points in the last two games, including 40 points in the 3-0 defeat of Sunderland on Saturday.

Michael Chopra has started his Black Cats career on a high and is the second-ranked English frontman, scoring in the 2-2 draw with Birmingham in midweek to lie in 36th overall and with two goals from his five Premier League shots on target.

With Bent (who is ranked third) already ruled out, Johnson is the next highest-placed candidate should he be deemed fit for the Wembley showdown.

He has yet to score this season but it is not for the want of trying, the former Crystal Palace man having 10 attempts on target so far - well clear of closest challenger Chopra.

Further down the Index some unfamiliar names are already showing signs of life with Matt Derbyshire (101st position), Aston Villa's Ashley Young and Derby forward Craig Fagan all featuring.

It's not just up top where McClaren has problems, however, with injuries to key defenders also opening the door for some England wannabes.

John Terry returned from injury for Chelsea on Sunday and experienced campaigners Sol Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate are both injured.

This could open the door for Newcastle's Steven Taylor and Manchester City starlet Micah Richards, who was so impressive in the derby defeat of Manchester United.

Actim, however, has some other ideas.

Spurs star Anthony Gardner is the top-ranked English defender, his 50-point haul this week helping him to a place in the team of the week.

Gardner has the joint-top amount of clearances (seven) of all Englishmen.

Veteran Everton stopper Alan Stubbs sits two places behind Gardner in 18th overall, 30 points in the midweek defeat of Spurs helping him to a fine start to the season.

Stubbs' six tackles won is the second best mark amongst his English peers.

Tony Hibbert makes it an Everton one-two at the back, also with 51 points like Stubbs and six tackles won.

Richards (46 points) justifies his inclusion, sitting fourth-ranked in the list of English defenders in 30th overall.

The Actim Index also reveals:

:: Manchester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has yet to concede a goal in 284 minutes of Barclays Premier League football. Schmeichel is the top-ranked keeper on the Actim Index in 12th place overall.

:: Reading's Marcus Hahnemann has been the busiest Premier League keeper, making 26 saves in his three games so far this season - seven more than Portsmouth's David James and Birmingham's Colin Doyle.

::Manchester United's only player in the current top 100 is Paul Scholes, ranked in 92nd place.

The top 5 Actim Index players are:

PlayerRankingPositionIndex Score

John Utaka11st Ranked Midfielder87

Antoine Sibierski22nd Ranked Midfielder81

Benjani31st Ranked Striker71

Richard Dunne 41st Ranked Defender68

Frank Lampard53rd Ranked Midfielder67