BBC News | Football | Brown and Phillips get first caps

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Tuesday, April 27, 1999 Published at 11:12 GMT 12:12 UK

Brown and Phillips get first caps

Brown and Phillips get first caps
England coach Kevin Keegan has named his team for Wednesday night's friendly with Hungary in Budapest.

Sunderland's Kevin Phillips and Manchester United's Wes Brown are handed debuts in the team, although there is no word on who will captain the side.

For Phillips, who was languishing in Watford's reserve side just three years ago after a number of injury problems, it caps off a brilliant few years.

Since he joined Sunderland he has become a prolific goalscorer and his 23 goals this season have played a valuable part in the Wearsider's push for promotion.

His partnership with Alan Shearer will be of particular interest to those fans living in the north-east of the country in a strike force which should cause Hungary a few problems.

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Brown, who is yet another product of the Manchester United youth system to make his England debut at such a tender age, impressed when he pulled on an international shirt for the England Under-21 side.

Keegan has opted to play David Batty, Nicky Butt and Tim Sherwood in a defensive midfield with Steve McManaman offering the only real attacking option down the wings.

Brown will slot in at right-back slot alongside Rio Ferdinand and his United team mate Phil Neville who will play down the left..

Only David Seaman and Martin Keown can offer any real experience at the back in a makeshift side which gives the fans a sneak preview of the future of English football.

Keegan is considering giving Seaman the armband for as he wins his 50th cap.

"It's a wonderful achievement," he said.

"It's a milestone and although I hadn't considered making him captain for the game before now, I'll have a look at that."

England's regular skipper Alan Shearer is likely to be given back the captaincy for the Wembley Euro 2000 qualifier against Sweden on 5 June.

Warning

Keegan has warned the Hungarians not to underestimate the depleted squad on his hands.

"Underestimate us at your peril," he told his opponents while admitting that he would have to pick at least two debutants.

"People are saying things like it is a case of us having to make the best of a bad job," he complained.

"But that's not the way I am looking at it. I think it is still an incredibly strong squad, an exciting squad.

"It excites me that I have three or four youngsters here who are good enough to be in the squad."

Donation

Meanwhile, England are to donate between Ł25,000 and Ł30,000 of their match fee for the international with Hungary in Budapest towards the Kosovar refugees - with the Football Association also matching that figure.

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England skipper Alan Shearer said that the squad had been unanimous in backing Kevin Keegan's plan for them to donate a percentage of their earnings from the Hungarian clash.

"The players have decided between a fee of #25,000 and #30,000 which is going to be matched by the FA," Shearer said.

"We will take advice on what to do exactly with the money and who to give it to but it will be something to do with the refugees.

"It was a unanimous decision among the lads. There wasn't one person who didn't want to help out which is a good sign.

"We are all aware of the situation and have seen the pictures on television but we are here to play football and it would be wrong for me to get involved in the political side of things."

Team:

Seaman (Arsenal), Brown (Man Utd), P Neville (Man Utd), Keown (Arsenal), Ferdinand (West Ham), Sherwood (Tottenham), Batty (Leeds), Butt (Man Utd), McManaman (Liverpool), Shearer (Newcastle), Phillips (Sunderland).

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