Exclusive by John May

PREMIERSHIP GOALS Michael Owen: 15 James Beattie: 14 Wayne Rooney: 10 Alan Smith: 9 Darius Vassell: 8 Emile Heskey: 7

James Beattie has issued a last-ditch plea to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to pick him for the Euro 2004 Championship.

Eriksson looks set to overlook the Southampton striker who is ready to back his goalscoring record against any current English striker.

Beattie said: "I would think with the goals I had scored it might have grabbed his attention.

"I think I would be a good addition to the squad."

The Saints striker added: "At the very least, I would be a good option coming off the bench.

"If England are losing and looking for a goal in the last 20 minutes of a game, I'm the sort of player you might be looking for if you want to go direct."

Southgate blow for England

Only Michael Owen among the English strikers has scored more Premiership goals than Beattie this season.

Owen's 15 strikes puts him one ahead of Beattie, who has again shown consistent goalscoring form in a season in which he has been niggled by injury.

Beattie has won four England caps but has yet to open his international goalscoring account.

I don't really know what else I can do to grab Eriksson's attention James Beattie

He said: "I think my goalscoring record is as good if not better than any of the other strikers in the frame.

"I have always said that all I can do is get the goals and hope they get me in.

"I've got goals again this season when I haven't been at my best, and I don't really know what else I can do to grab his attention."

Beattie has played through the pain of a torn cartilage but would be more than happy to postpone any surgery he might have to undergo.

"It's only a minor thing and to be honest I've been playing with it for some time.

"It tends to get better whenever I rest it, and I the chances are I might not even need surgery on it.

"If I do, it would only be a minor tidy-up job, but it could certainly wait until after the European Championship.

"I haven't made any holiday plans yet and I'd be quite happy to wait a while."