Football: Martyn enhances chances

NIGEL MARTYN enhanced his chances of clinching a place in Glenn Hoddle's World Cup 22 - and then admitted he faces "the most nerve-racking weekend of my career".

Martyn took full advantage of his chance to impress Hoddle. Now Martyn will be sweating in the next 48 hours to see if he can claim one of the two remaining goalkeeper spots behind David Seaman.

Martyn said: "I hope I have enhanced my chances but none of us know what the manager is thinking. I was happy with my performance overall and I felt it was my best in an England shirt.

"From my point of view it was probably good that I pulled off a few saves - although from England's it would have been better if I'd had nothing to do.

"But now I'm going to have to face up to, without doubt, what will be the most nerve-racking weekend I've had to face in football.

"I think I will sleep tonight because we've got a long journey back to Spain, but after that it might be a bit different.

"Which ever of the keepers miss out on Monday will have the utmost sympathy and support of the other two."

Martyn's rock solid performance earned him praise from Hoddle, who also has to decide between Tim Flowers and Ian Walker, who was again left on the substitutes' bench.

Hoddle said: "Nigel showed a lot of maturity. He was very, very calm and his performance was very solid.

"He made one outstanding save and also kept his cool. That's what the game is all about.

"It was good for him to get the experience of a penalty shoot-out under his belt and to top things off he made a good save in that as well. I was pleased with him."