Fabio Capello’s preference for his England team has been to employ a target man but, until this season, Carlton Cole had not been in his thoughts.

A call from the Italian emphasised to the West Ham United forward where he needed to improve and being “too nice” had become a hindrance for him. However, Cole’s elevation to senior England duty this year was more down to individual coaching from Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, who had been in contact with Capello, his compatriot. Cole leads the line better now, but he would have boasted more than 11 goals had he been more assured in front of goal. Capello is now urging him to take shots earlier.

“I am too nice a guy and that is how I have been seen on the pitch,” Cole said. “I have got to be selfish, more of a nutter and show aggression. Fabio told us that he sees me as a great threat in the box, but he wants me to work on outmuscling defenders, my physical presence and being a bit clever. It is encouraging to think I can be a big hit if I do what Fabio wants.”

Cole, 25, aggravated a groin injury less than 20 minutes after coming on for England against Slovakia in a friendly in March. His one substitute appearance since, for West Ham, may not be enough to see him named tomorrow in the England squad for World Cup qualifiers away to Kazakhstan on June 6 and at home to Andorra, four days later.

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Ledley King is also unsure of a call-up after his farcical withdrawal from the squad for the games against Slovakia and Ukraine, because of a chronic knee injury. Harry Redknapp said that his Tottenham Hotspur medical staff will decide whether the defender is fit to be called up. “The club physio is in contact with the England doctor, so it will be them who decide whether Ledley is in the squad,” Redknapp said.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, the Manchester City winger, may need surgery on a knee injury and will miss the matches.