Peter Crouch has admitted frustration at the bit-part role he has played for England under Fabio Capello, but conceded the team's impressive record in World Cup qualifying has damaged his chances of inclusion.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward, who returns to his former club Portsmouth tomorrow, scored twice in the 3-0 win over Belarus to swell his international goal tally to 18 in 35 caps. He has scored in all three of the competitive games he has started under Capello – and in each of his last six starts for his country – but was offered little indication that he could expect to retain his place in next month's friendly against Brazil in Qatar.

Capello prefers the brawn and movement provided by Emile Heskey, despite the Aston Villa forward having struggled to hold down a place at his club in recent months and his relatively meagre tally of seven goals in 57 caps. "Emile's situation is one of those things and the manager picks the best team he sees fit," said Crouch. "I can't argue too much because the record in qualifying has been very good. The team has done fantastically well and Emile has played the majority of those games.

"Obviously I would prefer to be Plan A than Plan B. If we were losing games I could go and speak to the manager, but I'm not going to be the first one to argue with him. He picks the team and the side has done fantastically well. I want to be playing all the time for England, it's a dream to play at Wembley and wear the No9 shirt, but when called upon I will continue to do what I have done.

"I feel confident, I've never let anyone down. Whenever I've come in I've scored goals and played well. Hopefully, I will continue to do that. When you get a chance you've just got to go out there and take it. Hopefully, I've given the manager something to think about."

Crouch's toils have actually been mirrored at club level in recent times, the forward scoring a hat-trick in a League Cup tie at Preston North End last month only to find himself relegated to the bench behind Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane for the subsequent 5-0 drubbing of Burnley. "I'm not starting every game at Tottenham, but I'm at a top, top club and, with the squad we've got, we can really compete and do well," he said. "The manager has brought me in and he's going to play me. He's not going to leave me on the bench. I know I will get a good share of games."

The return to Fratton Park, where Crouch has enjoyed two season-long spells in his career, will be a reunion of old friends given the number of players who have transferred between the clubs in the last few years, and with Harry Redknapp having coached both. The focus will be on the manager, who has already declined touchline protection at the game, though Crouch anticipates "a tasty game and a hot atmosphere".

"It'll be like Portsmouth Old Boys," he added. "Harry did fantastically well for Portsmouth. He was probably the best manager in their history. He won the FA Cup and took the club into Europe. It's understandable the fans are angry he left them, but that's football.

"I've got absolutely no idea how the Portsmouth fans will react to me going back. I loved every second at the club, but most of the players had to move on with things the way they were. It wasn't a great situation [with the finances], and I don't think I was talking out of turn when I spoke about that in the summer. Everyone knows the situation there wasn't great, the manager has admitted that. I hope they have sorted things out with the new owner. I've got a great admiration for the club and it will be good if they've got stability."