Exclusive by John May BBC Sport Online

James Beattie is ready to ignore Sven-Goran Eriksson in an attempt to boost his international chances.

The England boss is scheduled to watch Beattie in action for Southampton against Liverpool at St Mary's on Saturday.

If Mr Eriksson is watching I won't let it enter my head and will treat it as a normal game Southampton striker James Beattie

James Beattie's latest column in full

The groundswell of support for the Premiership's top scorer to be included in Eriksson's next England squad to face Australia grows with every goal.

But Beattie told BBC Sport Online that he will shrug off Eriksson's presence.

He said: "If Mr Eriksson is watching it won't make any difference to me.

"I won't let it enter my head and will treat it as a normal game and do exactly as I always do in terms of preparation."

The St Mary's clash could give Eriksson the chance to compare Beattie with two of his main rivals for a place in the England squad, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.

Sven's last visit to St Mary's wasn't the happiest

Beattie puts his 15 Premiership goals this season up against the combined 10-goal tally of Owen and Heskey.

Beattie, though, refuses to get drawn into the prospect of direct show-down with the Liverpool pair.

He said: "There will be plenty of England players on show on Saturday - Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Bridge.

"If Mr Eriksson does come, I wouldn't flatter myself to think he's just come to look at me.

'Not getting carried away'

"Of course I'm aware of all the talk and speculation surrounding the next England squad - I would have to be deaf and blind not to.

"But I have said all along that I will let other people do the talking.

"Of course I would love to play for England, but I won't get carried away by all the hype.

"All I can do is to continue to score goals and hope that does the trick.

"I have got where I am this season by keeping to the same formula, and there's no reason to change it now."