Newcastle striker Andy Carroll is hoping a groin injury does not prevent him from making his England debut on Wednesday night.
The Magpies ace received his maiden call-up to the senior squad over the weekend ahead of England's friendly with France.
However, Carroll is a doubt after picking up a groin problem in the Magpies' 0-0 draw with Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.
Carroll has linked up with the Three Lions camp at their training base in Watford and he is hoping that he will be fit enough to play at Wembley on Wednesday.
"I just felt a twinge in the groin as we were pushing forward to try and get a goal but I don't really know how it happened," Carroll told The Sun.
"I saw the doctor after the match and it was decided to have another look at it on Sunday lunchtime.
"I hoped that if I got a good night's sleep I might wake up and it would feel better because that's happened before.
"It felt worse when I got up but improved during the day."
Carroll admits he was overjoyed to receive his first call from Fabio Capello, saying: "There had been a lot of hints that I would get in the England squad and when I got told officially on Saturday night it was the best feeling in the world.
"But then the prospect of having to pull out felt like the worst feeling in the world."
Carroll has been hampered by many off-the-field issues in recent months which some suggested would prevent him being called into the England squad.
Capello has even stressed his willingness to sit down with Carroll once he links up with the squad.
"There's been a lot said about me off the pitch and I want to change that round," he said. "I want people to be talking about what I do on the pitch.
"I think I deserved the call-up. I've been doing well this season and I've got seven goals in the league.
"Plenty of opposition players and managers have said good things about how I play.
"If I keep my good form going I hope the England manager will be picking me again. I really believe I can score goals for England and I want the chance to prove it.
"Last season when I got 19 goals as we won promotion back to the Premier League, people were saying I could only do it in the Championship and that they'd find out what I was about when I was playing regularly in the Premier League.
"Well I think I've shown I can do it in the top division and I'm convinced I can do it as an international as well.
"I'm not afraid of playing for England, I see it as a great challenge and if I miss out this time it will just make me more determined to get in the squad the next time."
