Rio Ferdinand has been passed fit for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Croatia in Zagreb and will likely return in place of Everton's Joleon Lescott.

Captain John Terry said Ferdinand's experience of the big occasion would be crucial.

"Rio's been the best centre half in the world over the last two years for me, so the fact he's fit is a great boost for the whole squad," said the Chelsea skipper.

Fabio Capello declared a clean bill of health for his squad to leave him with several selection questions to mull over.

He has to decide whether to recall David Beckham in place of Theo Walcott and also admits he is undecided on whether to hand Joe Cole a starting berth after his two-goal cameo from the bench against Andorra.

Capello said: "I've got to think about Joe. He is very good for himself at the moment and very good for us. But I have to decide what the first 11 will be.

"It will be another game - and it will a different sort of game."

Cole has not started an England game since the friendly defeat away to France in March.

He came off the bench to earn a draw at home to the Czech Republic at Wembley in August and it was his introduction at half-time that turned the game in England's favour in Barcelona against Andorra at the weekend.

But with England's lack of a goalscoring threat, it seems likely that Cole will be back in the starting line-up against Croatia in place of the ineffective Stewart Downing.

Terry said: "Coley came on with a fresh pair of legs and showed great movement for his first goal and the second one. They were two great finishes. He was fantastic.

"I am delighted for Coley. He has been on fire at Chelsea and he has come on and turned things. When he is not in the team he is really frustrated because he wants to play. I am delighted for him."

Capello's other option is to go with a narrow midfield that encompasses Frank Lampard, Beckham and Barry - with two of Rooney, Walcott and Cole playing off Heskey.

Wes Brown may also be recalled at right-back, while the power of Emile Heskey could be preferred to Jermain Defoe up front.

England lost both games against Croatia in their unsuccessful European Championship qualifying campaign.

There is a feeling that a point on Wednesday would be considered a good result but Capello said his side will be looking for all three when they go to Zagreb.

"Croatia will be another game, not like Andorra," he insisted. "We have to play to win, always.

"I followed Croatia a lot in the European Championship. They are a good team and when they play at home the fans help the players a lot. The fans are very strong in terms of emotion and passion.

"Are England good enough to get a result? Yes, I think so. I am confident in my team."

Croatia showed at Euro 2008 they are capable of playing exciting football if given space to get the likes of Luka Modric flowing; it will be Gareth Barry's role to quell the impact made by the diminutive Tottenham schemer.

While England toiled at the weekend, Croatia strolled to a 3-0 win over Kazakhstan and it is not anticipated the notoriously laid-back Bilic will be wracked with doubt over who should figure in his starting XI.

The performance of Vedran Corluka at right-back will no doubt interest Tottenham fans, as will that of Modric, the player identified as the one England need to stop by Capello.

The hard running Ivica Olic continues to lead Croatia's front-line, with Ivan Klasnic likely to provide support from a more deep-lying position.