SAM Allardyce believes Michael Ricketts has now done enough to convince Sven Goran Eriksson to give him a chance to prove his value to England.

The Wanderers' boss, proud to see his 12-goal top scorer hitting the Premiership heights, says he now deserves an international call.

"I'd put him in the squad now and let him have a feel of it," he suggested.

"Sven's seen him often enough. He's been to about six of our games, which I'm very, very glad to see.

"If he's looking for a goalscorer, I'd introduce him to the squad and give him some games."

Allardyce has delighted in seeing his £400,000 Summer 2000 signing from Walsall continue where he left off in the promotion season when he topped the Reebok goal charts with 24.

Ricketts is now one of the hottest attacking properties in the game but the manager does not believe he is getting enough credit.

"People don't put his goals in the same category as Dennis Bergkamp's or Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's but it's time he was given the praise he deserves for the quality goals he's scored. The goal against Tottenham was pure quality and the goal at Ipswich was top drawer ... absolutely world class.

"His array of goals has been absolutely top quality.

"He's got 12 so far - 10 in the Premiership - and that's with a side that doesn't provide him with a great deal of chances, to be fair. Our chances are much more limited than those created by Manchester United, Liverpool and Leeds and Arsenal.

"He's one of the major reasons we have picked up so many points this season."

Allardyce, who a year ago suggested a valuation of £7m to £8m, sees no reason to put a price on Ricketts' head now because he is not on the market.

"There's no price on him because we aren't selling him and we aren't selling Jussi Jaaskelainen," he insists. "I suppose if you are evaluating someone like them you'd be talking about lots and lots of money.

"But if you want to stay in the Premiership, you can't be going selling Michael Ricketts and Jussi Jaaskelainen. You need to be buying people to add to them.