Ashton broke his ankle while training with the England squad

Steve McClaren will name his squad to face Estonia and Russia on Friday and there are doubts over the fitness and form of many of his leading strikers.

Ashton, 23, has scored three goals in his last four games for West Ham.

"He has forced his way in," said McClaren. "He certainly comes into consideration."

606: DEBATE Is Ashton the right pick for England?

England play Estonia at Wembley on 13 October and travel to Russia for a potentially decisive Group E Euro 2008 qualifier four days later.

With doubts surrounding the fitness of Michael Owen after surgery over the weekend and Emile Heskey sidelined with a broken metatarsal, in-form Ashton could have a role to play.

"I have been watching Ashton from pre-season onwards," said McClaren.

"It was very disappointing about the injury at the start of last season with England."

However, Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch are available again after injury and suspension respectively - and McClaren has not given up on the possibility of Owen playing.

"At the present moment Michael is not out," he told BBC 5live.

"We'll liaise with Newcastle to make sure that he is OK and hopefully he can join up with us and we'll take it from there."

Newcastle striker Owen, 27, underwent stomach surgery in Germany and is recovering from a torn abductor muscle in his groin.