Seaman may be forced to jump ship

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON is adamant he has the necessary ruthless streak to axe under-performing players and he will use the four months before England’s next game to see whether David Seaman falls into that category.

Eriksson maintains the Arsenal goalkeeper is still as good as ever but he will have to be near-perfect for his club after his aberration against Macedonia if he is ever to play for England again. Forget Artim Sakiri, Seaman must feel like committing hara kiri.

The likelihood is that Eriksson will decide that the time has come for change. It may be that after 75 caps Seaman jumps before he is pushed - if so England fans will be hoping he times his jump right for once.