Keegan denies Shearer cover-up

On the fringes: Shearer watches training on Friday

England coach Kevin Keegan has dismissed suggestions that he is covering up the truth about Alan Shearer's knee injury.

The national skipper has been given a deadline of Sunday to prove his fitness ahead of the opening game against Portugal.

Shearer has had a precautionary scan on the problem - but Keegan continues to be upbeat about the centre-forward's chances of being fit for Monday's game.

"We are not trying to hide anything," Keegan said at the team's Spa training ground. "If he doesn't train on Saturday he would have to train on Sunday to have a chance of playing in the first game.

Alan is feeling fine - he wants to play, obviously, and we just have to wait and see

England manager Kevin Keegan

"In an ideal world you want all your players training all the time. In football they get little niggles.

"With Alan he has so much experience that to miss two or three days won't be a major problem. If it becomes five or six we have a major problem."

Keegan added: "I am always optimistic. I think he will be fit to play.

"I am not an expert. We all feel, the medical staff and myself, that he should be able to train this weekend. If he manages that then he is fine."

Keegan stressed that should Shearer not be fit to play in the tournament he would then be able to call on any English player as a replacement - not just those who were in his provisional 28-man squad.

Clap-happy: Keegan remains upbeat over Shearer

But he added: "I don't think we have to go down that line with Alan Shearer. If he does not make the first game, he will be fit for the second game."

Keegan also added that the absence of midfielder Paul Ince from training today was a precautionary measure.

"Paul has a stiffness in his back, but will train again on Saturday," he said. "That is not a problem."