EWOOD chief Graeme Souness today conceded Matt Jansen's dream of making England's World Cup squad is over after he was struck down by illness earlier this week.

Jansen's hopes of making his full international debut and impressing Sven-Goran Eriksson were dashed when he was ruled out of England's midweek win over Paraguay with a stomach bug.

Now the 14-goal striker is clinging on to the hope that he could yet force his way into Eriksson's 23-man party if one of his striking rivals gets injured.

But Souness is not so sure and said: "I would say his chance has now gone because I think Sven has more or less made his mind up.

"I know he has said in the papers he hasn't, but I would think he has more or less got his squad formulated and that would have been prior to the Paraguay game."

Jansen was still struggling to shake off the effects of the illness ahead of Rovers' game at Middlesbrough today.

He hasn't trained since Tuesday when he first complained of feeling unwell.