Eriksson prepares to place his trust in James

David Seaman will have more reason than most to be nervous when the next England squad is announced, after Sven Goran Eriksson gave the strongest hint yet that David James may be about to supplant him as the national No 1.

James played the full 90 minutes of England's 1-1 draw with Portugal at Villa Park and afterwards Eriksson said he had been the only player guaranteed a complete game. The England manager added: "He made no mistakes and played very well. It was good for him to have a whole game. It was the first time he had done so under me." It was only the third full game of his five-year England career.

In the past Eriksson has always insisted Seaman was his preferred choice, a view he reaffirmed after the goalkeeper misjudged the long-range Ronaldinho free-kick which knocked England out of the World Cup. Now he shies clear of expressing a preference. "If I now have a dilemma over that position that is good," he said yesterday.

Since Eriksson has often rested Seaman from friendlies not too much can be read into his absence from the squad for Saturday's game. However, as Eriksson is likely to name three goalkeepers for the European Championship double-header against Slovakia and Macedonia, omitting him then would signal the end of his international career.

Seaman, who will have turned 39 by the time England play Slovakia on 10 October, made his England debut in November 1988 and has since won 73 caps. The Arsenal goalkeeper began the season with two clean sheets but has conceded five goals in his last three appearances including the 43-yard free-kick by Gianfranco Zola last Sunday in front of Eriksson.

"It is always hard to leave out a player who has been in the team for so long," said Eriksson. "It is the same at at club level. But at a certain point you have to take them out even if they have played for 10 years. That is hard in human terms but I cannot afford to think about that. I have to judge who is the best in this country on football alone."

James has made mistakes with England, giving away a penalty against Italy last spring, but is more athletic than Seaman and, as was evident in his part in Alan Smith's goal, has worked hard on his distribution. Seaman's advantage is his big-game experience. James is yet to play in a competitive international and has never played in the Champions' League. Since replacing Chris Woods as the regular England keeper in 1993, Seaman has played 39 of the subsequent 44 competitive internationals. For the games he missed, always through injury, Nigel Martyn deputised four times and Ian Walker once, both with mixed fortunes.

"There is a month to go yet," added Eriksson. "A lot of things can happen." Seaman has the chance to show in Arsenal's three Champions' League games that he remains England's best. James has only Premiership matches in which to press his case.