Bobby Zamora for England?

Can Fulham frontman Bobby Zamora really feature for England?

England coach Fabio Capello was at Craven Cottage on Sunday to check on the 29-year-old and the striker didn't pass up his chance.

Zamora was inspirational for the Cottagers and capped a fine display with a superb last-gasp free-kick to seal Fulham's 2-1 success over Birmingham.

The England coach had already left the Cottage before Zamora's strike but his report on the targetman is sure to compare favourably with that of England general manager Franco Baldini, who was keeping tabs on Emile Heskey, among others at Villa Park.

Heskey was far from his best and was substituted with 77 minutes on the clock as Aston Villa thumped Burnley 5-2.

Meanwhile, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has joined the clamour for the in-form Zamora to gain England recognition and the Fulham fans chanted his name for England as he claimed his 15th goal in 32 starts this season.

"Bobby Zamora was a thorn all afternoon - he caused us a lot of problems," said the Blues manager.

"I think Zamora was the difference. If Fabio Capello is looking for a certain type of forward, then Zamora is as good as anyone I've seen at keeping that ball up.

"Like Emile Heskey, he's a guy who can bring other players into play and help other people prosper without maybe being prolific."

Roy Hodgson added: "I think Capello will have been impressed. I know the fans were chanting his name for England and that was quite right.

"Capello knows football very well and is a person I regard as a friend. I've got every faith in his judgement.

"If he believes Bobby can do a job for him he'll pick him.

"I'm sure that being the good judge of a player that he is, he'll have gone away realising that in Bobby Fulham have a good player."

Zamora is certainly a striker in form and if Capello is looking for someone to support Wayne Rooney then the Fulham man could come into contention for the friendly against Egypt on March.

However, England's World Cup football betting makes puts them among the favourites for the tournament and there are question marks over Zamora's ability to cut it at the very highest level.

Meanwhile, in horse racing news, the build up to the Grand National 2010 is well underway and Tricky Trickster currently leads the ante-post betting.