Football: Sellars lined up for England call

SCOTT SELLARS could be the surprise solution to England's problem left side of midfield. Kevin Keegan and his assistants have watched the Bolton captain recently and he could earn his first England call at the age of 33.

Sellars is one of Keegan's favourite players from their days together at Newcastle United where he made a number of Andy Cole's goals and he remains one of the best left-sided English midfielders around. England's coach has sent Derek Fazackerley, who was also a Sellars fan at Newcastle, to watch him in action twice in the past fortnight and his other scout, Arthur Cox, has also assessed his form.

Sellars could be a surprise name in the squad to face Poland on Saturday week as Keegan is frustrated in his search for left-sided players. Steve McManaman is having problems at Liverpool, and was left out of the squad to face Derby at Pride Park, where Keegan made his first official scouting trip. Darren Anderton looked uncomfortable in the role in the game against France, while other alternatives are Blackburn's Jason Wilcox and Leicester's Steve Guppy.

Keegan took Sellars to Newcastle from Leeds United at the start of the club's purple patch seven years ago and he was sold to Bolton, now in the Nationwide First Division, only because of the dazzling form of David Ginola. He has been one of Bolton's best players as they have struggled to secure a place for themselves in the Premiership.

However, McManaman's troubles may be ending. He will fly out with Liverpool today for a three-day training camp in France. The Liverpool manager, Gerard Houllier, said yesterday there had been no row with the Real Madrid- bound player and that there was no truth in the suggestion that McManaman has played his last game for the Merseysiders.