THE chances of Southampton-born Steve Guppy getting a piece of the action for England against Scotland heightened last night when Steve McManaman pulled out of Saturday's clash with the auld enemy.

Former Liverpool star Macca, earmarked to fill the left wing-back role, has suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury which until last Saturday had kept him out of the Real Madrid side for five weeks.

Although it leaves McManaman a non-starter for the first leg of the European 2000 qualifier against Scotland at Hampden, England coach Kevin Keegan hopes he still might be able to figure in the return at Wembley next Wednesday.

Meantime Leicester City's Guppy, who made his England debut against Belgium last month, steps up the pecking order for a run out against the Scots although it seems more likely than Keegan will opt for Mancherster United's Phil Neville with Guppy, a former Colden Common player, on the bench.

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