England manager Kevin Keegan remains confident that Michael Owen will be fit for Euro 2000.

There have been doubts about the Liverpool striker's fitness after a series of hamstring injuries, and he is being rested by the club until March to try to sort out the problems.

But Keegan told BBC One's Breakfast with Frost that Owen is still a major part of his plans for the summer.

"I talked with Gerard Houllier just last week," said Keegan, before attacking the role of the press in reporting Owen's injury.

"Everything is exaggerated. Whereas 10 of 15 years ago I think journalists sought the truth, now they don't want to do that.

"They want to exaggerate it and then the next story is talking to the people concerned and getting it put back in line."

Keegan added of Owen: "He'll be there."

---

Rangers confirm interest in Ritchie

Rangers boss Dick Advocaat has confirmed that he wants Hearts' central defender Paul Ritchie to move to Ibrox in the summer.

The 24-year-old is currently on loan at Nationwide League First Division side Bolton, and his out of contract at Tynecastle this summer.

"We haven't made any approach for him yet but at the end of the season, yes," confirmed Advocaat.

"We will be doing something about Ritchie in the summer."

Rangers had a £1m bid for Ritchie rejected at the start of the season, but Hearts manager Jim Jefferies lost patience when the player refused to sign a new deal and loaned him to Bolton.

---

Sauzee plans retirement

Hibernian midfielder Franck Sauzee has indicated that he will retire in the summer.

The 34-year-old Frenchman intends to return home at the end of the season, but not before playing at Hampden in May.

"I will end my career with Hibs and I'd like my last game to be the Scottish Cup final in May," he said.

"I would not like my standards to drop, " he told the Scottish Sunday Express.

"I have too much respect for the manager Alex McLeish, this club and the wonderful supporters for that to happen.

"When I am ready I will perhaps turn to coaching and I would also like to do some television work."

---

Matthaeus fears tears for souvenirs

Veteran Lothar Matthaeus has warned he may cry when he plays for Bayern Munich for the last time next month.

"I am naturally aware that when the final whistle blows on the Champions League match against Real Madrid on 8 March a part of my life will end," the 38-year-old German international wrote in a column in Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag.

"Perhaps there will be a few tears."

Matthaeus spent four years of his career at Bayern in 1988 before a spell in Italy ended with his return to Munich in 1992.

While he was away he captained his country to victory in the 1990 World Cup and has won a world-record equalling 143 caps.

He is expected to end his international career after this year's European championship finals in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Matthaeus will be 39 in March and suggested he might retire after one season with US Major League club New York-New Jersey MetroStars.