BAKU (AFP) - Owen Hargreaves faces an anxious wait to discover whether he will earn a rare England start in Azerbaijan, confident he is ready to finally grasp his opportunity in Sven-Goran Eriksson's line-up.
The 23-year-old Canadian-born midfielder won his 24th cap in Saturday's 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Wales at Old Trafford as a substitute - a familiar theme given that the Bayern Munich player has made just seven England starts.
With David Beckham suspended for the game here and Steven Gerrard and Wayne Bridge injured, Hargreaves and Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips are in contention to start although it is unclear exactly what role the versatile Bayern man would be required to fill.
"That's been the case in my career the last four years," said the 23-year-old Hargreaves.
"I've always played in different positions but the last two games I've played the holding role to which I'm more accustomed and now I'm looking forward to big games, going back to Munich and playing Juventus in the Champions' League two games in a row.
"I've played on the left and the right but I'm not too fussy. When I get the opportunity to play for England I'm happy to play anywhere, I'd be happy just to get another start under my belt.
"There are a few people missing, Steven Gerrard and David Beckham obviously, so when you get your chance you need to perform. Hopefully I'll get the chance to perform on Wednesday because it's a big game for us, we need to get three points and stay top of the group.
"I've had a few chances and every time I've started I think I have done relatively well. I've tried to do my best and if that is the case on Wednesday and I get the call, I'll look to do it again. We have a very talented squad and it's just a matter of putting in a good performance and making the most of it when you get the chance.
"I don't think you'd want to try and copy David Beckham, I think that's impossible. I'll just try and go about my game as I normally do and when the manager asks me to do something I'll try and do it, work very hard to support Gary Neville, keep the shape and make plays going forward."
Being based in the Bundesliga has arguably worked against Hargreaves, whose form cannot be closely monitored by England supporters or the media, although the midfielder insists starring for such a world-famous club has not been a disadvantage.
"I don't think fans pick the team, the manager picks the team and he watches players closely," said Hargreaves.
"He is always giving me a ring and coming to watch games. He was in Bremen for our last league game, for example, so I'm very closely watched. It's not as though Bayern Munich are a small team. Bayern Munich are bigger than most clubs in the Premier League and all it takes is a satellite dish any time anyone wants to watch one of our games.
"Obviously, it would be more advantageous if I was playing in front of the English media and public week in week out but I am not so disadvantaged playing at a club like Bayern Munich in the Champions' League.
"I was very close to coming back in the summer. I spoke to Tottenham, they were in Munich, and I was interested but when it came down to it, if I'm playing week in week out at Bayern Munich, there are not too many clubs can compete with that. If I'm playing there, I'm happy, if not, I would like to look at another destination."
Meanwhile, Wright-Phillips similarly feels he is ready should Eriksson opt for a more traditional 4-4-2 formation, with the City man slotting into Beckham's usual position wide on the right side of midfield.
"There are a lot of very good players for the manager to choose from," said Wright-Phillips. "I've learned a lot being in the England squad, it's helped me immensely, and I'm getting more confident. Hopefully, I might get the shout."