Former Manchester United defender Danny Higginbotham believes that Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin should be ahead of Liverpool's Rickie Lambert in Roy Hodgson's pecking order.

Austin has impressed for Harry Redknapp's struggling Rangers side, though his performances have not warranted a call-up to the national team, with Lambert retaining his place for tonight's qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley.

"How can Austin not be picked when Rickie Lambert – a player who is so clearly short of confidence – makes the squad?" Higginbotham asked in his column for The Independent.

"Lambert's selection stems from the fact that there are fashionable squads when England come calling.

"If Lambert were struggling to make the Southampton team, I don't believe he would be selected, but because he is at Liverpool he gets the nod."

Austin has scored six goals in 10 appearances for QPR this season, while Lambert has yet to find the target for Liverpool in the Premier League.