When the three strikers still in the England squad have less than 90 minutes of international football between them, the withdrawal of Wayne Rooney with a throat infection could be considered something of a blessing this week.

It will not make beating Holland in Wednesday's friendly any easier. On the contrary, the confidence of Dutch boss Bert van Marwijk must be growing with each bulletin that comes from the FA. First they lose a captain, then a manager and now half the team.

But when the encounter at Wembley is also a key part of England’s preparation for this summer’s European Championship — and the last proper test given they face Norway and Belgium in the final run-outs before meeting France in Donetsk on June 11 — caretaker manager Stuart Pearce needs to make good use of it when it comes to his forwards.

Up for grabs: Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge have a big opportunity to impress in the England friendly against Holland

With Rooney suspended for the group games against France and Sweden and Darren Bent out for three months with an ankle injury, Holland is a huge audition and an opportunity England could  do with Danny Welbeck seizing.

Welbeck is a super player and has impressed at Manchester United this season. But he has played just 50 minutes of international football — only 14 of which were competitive — and that must change.

Daniel Sturridge is another option, even if he often plays wide for Chelsea. He, too, is an emerging star but his international opportunities have been even more limited: he has played just 32 minutes, as a substitute in last November’s friendly against Sweden.

When the third striker still  standing is the untried Fraizer Campbell, the concern for Pearce, Harry Redknapp or anyone else, is legitimate. This is not a situation any manager would welcome so close to a major tournament.

It highlights the reliance England have on Rooney but also exposes how unprepared the team appear to be, even if it would be wrong to blame the FA for what has  happened with John Terry and Fabio Capello.

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