Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson believes the only way to find out if James Beattie is ready to play for England is to give him a go.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was among the record stadium crowd for Saturday's 1-1 draw at St Mary's.

And, although Beattie's impressive scoring run was halted, he would have been impressed by the striker's all-round game.

Certainly Sir Bobby, pictured, was and the former England coach spoke from experience when he said: "I'm not the England manager, Sven is, but from what I've seen of him today and what my lads have said he's a handful.

"The only way to find out if he's ready is to put him in - it's the only way to know.

"If he's not happy with Owen or whoever playing alongside him, you won't know if you don't try him."

Robson added: "He's a bustling, energetic, strong player - a typical centre forward who, at the moment, can hold it up very well.

"He's a strong boy who's good in the air and it's not easy to play against him, he's hard to handle.

"His hold-up play has become much better and he looks as though he's able to take a chance which last year he would maybe have spooned or missed.

"I see Sven was here and James is at a good age and similar in many ways to Alan.

"Alan's a perfect role model. He's not far different from Alan at a younger age - he had that movement and strength to get through people."

Saints boss Gordon Strachan was also full of praise for Beattie's display and rated it his best of the campaign so far.

"Beattie had his best all round game this season as a footballer," he said.

"He's scored hat-tricks and doubles but that's his best."

Although Strachan has said he feels it is too soon for Beattie to be called into the England team, he knows that after his performance against the Magpies the call-up may come sooner rather than later.

"He's done himself no harm whatsoever," said Strachan. "If Sven needed to know if he could really play he knows now."

He added: "Too many people have been pushed into an England cap too early which has then affected their career and my job is to protect him.

"But I think he's a lot closer to his England cap with that performance."