England: QPR have two answers to a problem position

Charlie Austin fired six times in his first ten Premier League starts

Michael Lintorn wonders whether not only Charlie Austin but Bobby Zamora could have an England future...

Roy Hodgson has shown that he has no issue venturing into the bottom half of the Premier League in search of a solution to a squad deficiency. Aston Villa's Fabian Delph, Sunderland's Jack Colback and now West Brom's Saido Berahino have learnt that there is no snobbishness in the selection process.

It is surely only a matter of time before second bottom QPR, who are 2.466/4 to be relegated, receive a phone call enquiring as to the international availability of at least one of their players.

Though England have Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge to call on up front, the fourth attacking vacancy is up for grabs. Rickie Lambert has been the man in possession, but he is a few months shy of 33 and has made one Premier League or Champions League start for Liverpool all season despite Sturridge's injury and Mario Balotelli's struggles, so his position is certainly in doubt.

Berahino is being given the opportunity on this occasion as a reward for striking seven times in the Premier League this term, though three of those were penalties, meaning that Charlie Austin has actually outscored him from open play for a struggling side with six to the youngster's four.

Four of those goals came in his last three appearances as he begins to adapt to the Premier League in what is his first campaign, having worked his way up from Knitbury Rangers, Hungerford Town and Poole Town to Swindon and then Burnley and QPR. The 25-year-old has also netted against each of the top three - Chelsea, Southampton and Man City - in his short top-flight stay.

With a margin of just two separating Austin from the division's fourth highest scorer so far in 2014/15 (Berahino), odds of 8.88/1 on him closing the season as one of the top four goal-getters entice.

However, it isn't necessarily Austin alone in with a chance of international recognition. Bobby Zamora has to be an option for the Lambert or Andy Carroll big-guy-off-the-bench role.

The 33-year-old impressed in both of QPR's recent high-profile televised clashes with Liverpool and Man City, with England coach Gary Neville effusive in his praise as a co-commentator on each game.

Additionally, it was Hodgson who signed him for Fulham in 2008 and afforded him 59 Premier League starts over the two years that followed. The former West Ham and Tottenham target man was capped twice earlier this decade by Fabio Capello.

If you don't think either Austin or Zamora are worthy of England recognition and expect Berahino to assert that any forward vacancy has been filled, you will be able to back him at around 2.111/10 to score at any time against Slovenia at Wembley in a match that the Three Lions are 1.341/3 to win.