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Keegan Worries

England coach Kevin Keegan faces some crucial decisions over the next week-and-a-half as the countdown to the announcement of his final squad of 22 players for EURO 2000™ gathers pace. Both reserve goalkeeper David James and a quartet of Liverpool FC players still have question marks hanging over them and Keegan only has two more matches to help him make up his mind. Martyn worry Saturday’s FA Cup final was settled as a result of a goalkeeping blunder on the part of Aston Villa FC’s James, only selected in Keegan’s squad of 28 players a week ago. However, with an injury doubt still hanging over David Seaman’s deputy, Nigel Martyn, the England manager does not want to risk entering a major tournament with a second-choice goalkeeper who has never appeared in a full international before, which is the case with Ipswich Town FC’s Richard Wright. That would mean a place in Keegan’s final squad of 22 for James, who, despite Saturday’s mistake, has had probably his most consistent season ever in the Premier League.

James remains positive
Speaking in the aftermath of Saturday’s defeat, James played down the costly error and looked forward to the summer. "I feel responsible for not catching a ball,” he said. “That doesn't necessarily lose a game and there were more factors than that one issue. But I've got something to look forward to with England. I've got an opportunity to work with the finest players in the country and I'll be looking to do my stuff. What happened on Saturday is not going to stop me from going to England and trying my hardest to push for a place in the squad this summer. If the season had been scattered with those sort of mistakes then it might be different but they have hardly happened at all this season. I'm not going to sulk around. I'm going to join up with England, tackle things in a professional way and see what happens from there.” James looks certain to feature in one of the forthcoming matches against Brazil and Ukraine.

Fowler run-out
On Sunday afternoon, Robbie Fowler, Jamie Redknapp, Michael Owen and Emile Heskey played for their club side, Liverpool, in a testimonial match in Dublin for Republic of Ireland internationals Steve Staunton and Tony Cascarino. Concerning Keegan most will be the form and fitness of Fowler, one of six strikers selected in his preliminary 28-man squad. Fowler got through 63 minutes of action, setting up a goal for Owen along the way. He said afterwards: “In a strange way my lack of games could help me because, while tiredness may come into play with other players, it isn't a factor with me. I felt sharp and fresh against Celtic and it was good to get a full 90 minutes under my belt." Midfielder Steven Gerrard is the fifth Liverpool player in Keegan’s 28 and all five are expected to play some part in England’s friendlies against Brazil and Ukraine. However, with injury concerns hanging over four of the five, how many of them actually make Keegan’s final squad remains to be seen.

Surprise Call Up
In a further development on Monday morning, Aston Villa FC’S 19-year-old centre-back Gareth Barry was called up to the full England squad of 28 as cover for Jason Wilcox it was believed. Barry is left footed and if Wilcox, who sat out training on Monday morning, is not fit to feature against either Brazil or the Ukraine, then Barry could provide cover on thje left of a three man defence.

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Clare Nolan