Keown waits on Eriksson choice

Sven-Goran Eriksson must decide tomorrow whether Martin Keown's international career has effectively come to an end.  

Eriksson names his latest England squad for a friendly against Mexico and World Cup qualifier away to Greece.

And the England coach must decide whether to recall the Gunners defender with Sol Campbell and Gary Neville both injured.

There is also an injury doubt over Manchester United's Wes Brown, who partnered Rio Ferdinand in central defence when Campbell went off injured away to Albania in March.

Keown, who may turn 35 in July but has a wealth of experience behind him with 36 caps and captained his country in Finland only last October, would therefore be hoping for a recall.

Then again, there are also the claims of 30-year-old Aston Villa defender Gareth Southgate, who has earned even more caps - 41 - than Keown, as well as Middlesbrough centre-back Ugo Ehiogu, to consider.

Neither Keown nor Southgate have yet been selected by Eriksson after being injured for his first squad against Spain.

Ehiogu, 28, was meanwhile picked then and, indeed, came on as a substitute to score at Villa Park but missed out on the next squad as he was suspended from domestic action.

Even though Eriksson could always move Jamie Carragher into central defence, he is likely to have to make at least one defensive addition to his squad as both Neville and Campbell are missing.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger certainly believes that Keown is the man for the England coach to turn to for a match which England need to win to keep up any sort of pressure on group leaders Germany.

"I'm not the national coach but if Martin is fit enough, he's good enough," said Wenger recently.

"He has a good chance of getting back into the England team as I think they will play with some experience in Greece.

"In his last game against Finland, he was captain so that tells you a lot. When he has played, he has always done well.

"He's a highly-motivated player and a huge physical presence. He is among the top defenders in the country. If the national coaches have chosen him before, they must have thought so too."