Seaman still has England future

James kept Seaman out against Spain

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has insisted that David Seaman's international career is not over despite omitting the veteran 'keeper from the win over Spain.

Seaman was the only fit member of the squad not included on the bench at Villa Park, with David James sharing the goalkeeping duties with Nigel Martyn.

I don't have a first-choice goalkeeper. Age is not important to me

  Sven Goran Eriksson

However, Eriksson has reassured the 37-year-old Arsenal player that he still has every chance of making the starting line-up for the World Cup qualifiers against Finland and Albania.

"I know what David Seaman can do. I've seen him for 20 years and I wanted to see the others," said Eriksson.

"I don't have a first-choice goalkeeper. Age is not important to me. If I was thinking of the World Cup in 2006 then he might be a little old.

"But I talked to him and I think he accepted that. I wanted to pick him and tell him he is still part of the future. I don't think about age."

Both James and Martyn made good impressions with clean sheets, while the Leeds 'keeper also saved a penalty 11 minutes from time.

James, who played the opening 45 minutes, said Eriksson has made an instant impact on the players.

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"The first impressions of the coach are very good," he said. "Your performances and results will dictate how good a manager is and everything went really well against Spain.

"He certainly got the best out of the players and to a man I don't think any of them played badly. It was very encouraging.

"I think he kept the eagerness amongst the squad by not announcing the team two or three days in advance - and the performance showed that.

"It was all kept close to the chest until after training on the day of the game."