[theo kawala]

Steve McClaren admits Andrew Johnson's spectacular start to the season is giving him a selection headache.

Johnson, 25, has been in prolific form since moving to Everton from Crystal Palace in the summer.

He scored his sixth goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Manchester City to maintain Everton's unbeaten start to the season.

The England boss has started his first three games with Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe in attack.

Wayne Rooney will return for Saturday's game against Macedonia, probably at the expense of Defoe, but Johnson's claims are difficult to ignore.

McClaren said: "When you look at the strikers, Jermain has come in and played three and done very well when he's played with Peter Crouch.

"But for me Andy Johnson is the one who is really coming through.

"He's got his head at Everton. I thought it was a terrific signing.

"He's blossoming. He's started the season well.

"I've seen him two or three times and he's really impressed me with his work ethic and the way he works for the team.

"He's really pushing the strikers very hard. He deserves his place in the squad and he's knocking on the door to get in the team."

McClaren admits Rooney is an automatic choice despite his poor goal record for England in the last two years.

The Manchester United striker has only scored twice for his country since Euro 2004, both goals coming in friendlies.

Rooney is certain to start after returning from suspension and Crouch is likely to partner him.

Crouch has 11 goals in 14 games for England and scored a stunning overhead kick for Liverpool in Europe last week.

McClaren said: "His goalscoring record is unbelievable.

"You can't knock his record and, once again, he answered last week.

"They're not just goals, they're terrific goals.

"I've seen him do that in training.

"He's not just 6ft 7ins standing there. He's got great touch, great feet, great awareness, he's improving all the time and he's scoring goals.

"You can't knock his form or the way he's playing at the moment.

"As long as he's doing that and delivering, he's very difficult to get out of the team."

Defoe scored twice for England against Andorra last month but has not been able to impose himself on the team like Crouch.

The Tottenham striker looks set for the chop against Macedonia and will find himself slipping behind Johnson in the pecking order unless he rediscovers his goal-touch soon.

Charlton's Darren Bent, dropped from the squad to make way for Rooney's return, answered McClaren with a goal against Arsenal yesterday.

Bent now has five for the season and the England boss hopes he can fire the England Under-21 team to the European Championships.

Peter Taylor's side take on Germany on Friday in the first leg of the play-off for next summer's tournament.

McClaren said: "Darren is out because of Wayne Rooney's inclusion and because the under-21 game is a very important one for us.

"I want him to play in that. I've discussed it with Peter and discussed it with Darren.

"Although he's very much in our plans for the future we'd like him this time to play in the under-21s and help them qualify for the tournament in the summer."