[Mighty T.A.L.]

'Play it again, Steve'

Keep Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and David Beckham on the bench.

That was the message from former England midfielder Alan Mullery following Wednesday night's win over Russia.

Rooney, Lampard, Beckham and Owen Hargreaves were among those missing as Steve McClaren's men made it six points and six goals in two Euro 2008 qualifying games.

Mullery had been among those to criticise the recall of Emile Heskey, but after watching him and Gareth Barry impress again, urged the England coach to stick with a winning formula against Estonia next month.

"When Steve McClaren puts a side out against Estonia, I hope that if all these players are fit and we keep the same side," he told Sky Sports News.

"Would anybody in their right mind had said two weeks ago, we'd keep Wayne Rooney out of the side for Emile Heskey? Do me a favour!

Hungry

"But I'm saying yes, keep that same side that played in the last two games because that side was hungry win football matches and in McClaren's 14-odd previous matches, we haven't seen that.

"I do think that if had been Sven Goran Eriksson, he would have brought the 'usual suspects' back into the side. But Steve McClaren - I hope - says to those players 'you've taken your chance, you deserve to play against Estonia'.

"If they all keep playing like that, the side will stay the same."

Mullery had labelled Heskey's recall after three years in the international wilderness as an act of "desperation".

But he was the first to hold his hand up and admit that the Wigan man deserves to keep his place alongside Michael Owen - even if Rooney has recovered from his broken metatarsal in time for the Estonia game at Wembley on October 13th.

"The boy has been absolutely brilliant and if he had played like that in the 40-odd games before these, England would have probably won the World Cup!" he said.

Brilliant

"His part in the two wins has been fantastic. He is a big powerful lad, but he never really convinced me he was an international player. But yesterday, Emile was brilliant and I will be the first to say it."

There was more bad news for the injured duo of Lampard and Hargreaves.

Both were forced to sit out the double header against Israel and Russia, allowing Aston Villa's Barry to start back-to-back qualifiers for the first time.

And says Mullery, that might just have settled the issue of who to play alongside Steven Gerrard in central midfield.

"Barry has been absolutely sensational in both games," he said.

"He has probably been - and I know Michael Owen got both goals last night - out best player in the two games. He's done the job a midfielder player has to do: he's covered every blade of grass, tackled well and passed the ball simply.

"The boy deserves his position and he needs to keep his place."

Skysports

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