THOSE readers who are easily shocked had better sit down because this might surprise them. In the absence of Wayne Rooney, England's most important striker is Peter Crouch. The player who was booed when he made his home debut for the England team and dismissed as a freak of nature who could not score for club or country, has metamorphosed in a matter of days into a player of international significance. A hattrick yesterday against Jamaica, no England footballer will go to the World Cup with greater impetus.

He seems certain to start against Paraguay next Saturday and, if he continues in the same vein, might retain his place if Rooney's metatarsal mends. This is a notable a transformation even for his notoriously fickle profession, but since Eriksson became the last person in the land to realise that Michael Owen is not equipped to be a lone striker, Crouch's stock has rocketed.

True, Jamaica's hopeless defending could have gilded the efforts of a Sunday pub team, but Michael Owen still looked short of zest when held up against the Reggae Boyz while Crouch oozed confidence. Whether it was the goal against Hungary last week or because his robotic dancing became a national talking point, but for the first time, the Liverpool striker looked comfortable under the searchlight scrutiny of playing for England.

Crouch indulged in more dancing yesterday to mark his third, fourth and fifth goals in seven matches his country's colours in the 29th and 67th and 88th minutes.

Frankly, he had no need to bring further attention to himself; he had already made an impression by playing a part in nearly every one of England's six goals.

It was his header after 10 minutes that gave Owen the space to pass to Frank Lampard for England's first goal and Crouch was heavily involved in the build-up to the second before he connected with a header from a David Beckham corner to steer the ball into the net, although the last touch was a Jamican one.

There was no doubt about Crouch's second, but even an open goal looked missable a few months back. The third, to complete his hat-trick, was a sweet side-foot into the corner of the net.

In October, Old Trafford jeered nearly every Crouch touch in the World Cup qualifier against Austria. Yesterday the Theatre of Dreams rose to applaud him and even took his efforts at a penalty, - a fluffed attempt at a chip that sailed over the bar - in good heart.

They used to laugh at Peter Crouch; yesterday they were laughing with him.