HAS Terry Venables blundered - big time?

That may well be the view of many football fans around the country, as the build-up to the European Championship finals gathers momentum.

The England coach omitted Blackburn Rovers winger Jason Wilcox from his squad yesterday, when he named the final 22 gladiators who will contest Euro 96.

And, while he might think he is all right, it's the left flank that should be concerning Venables and the vulnerability that could yet come back to haunt him.

Wilcox arrived home last night from England's Far East adventure, still a little disorientated after all the travel and the trauma of the previous 24 hours.

The trip proved to be more of a flight of fancy for him, rather than a key to the football fantasy land promised by next month's European Championships.

But he is still determined to take as many positive vibes as he can from his experiences over the past few weeks.

After convincing most people on his successful debut against Hungary that he could fulfil a key left flank role for England, Wilcox was given just a few minutes of action after travelling thousands of miles to China and Hong Kong. And, though he had his foot in the Euro 96 door thanks to his impressive international bow, it has been slammed shut.

But the winger will now take stock and intends to profit from this case of so near, yet so far away.

"Obviously, it's very disappointing to get so far, to do okay against Hungary and then just miss out," he said.

"But if you had spoken to me about playing for England just a couple of months ago, I would have thought one of us was dreaming.

"Even a couple of weeks ago, I would have said my chances of making the squad were pretty slim but I felt brilliant in the game against Hungary and I don't think my debut could have gone any better.

"After that game, that's when your thoughts change and you start to think there might be half a chance.

"But it's not to be and I am now going to look forward.

"Perhaps going so close and then missing out will be a kick up the backside to make me do even better for Blackburn next season. "I have always said that my form for my club has always been the most important thing.

"But when things like playing for England happen to you, you get greedy and want more.

"I feel really proud that I have got so far but it does hurt to go so close."

Wilcox was told that he would be one of the men to miss out on Monday, before England left Hong Kong for home.

And he will be the first to wish Ewood team-mates Alan Shearer and Tim Flowers the best of luck when Euro 96 kicks off.

But it's something of a surprise that, despite Wilcox's late arrival on the scene, he has not been retained.

For Venables has left himself with very few genuine options on the left-hand side.

And Wilcox proved against Hungary that he could do a job.

Now he will have to wait until the new boss, Glenn Hoddle, takes over to see if he has a long-term future on the international scene.

Happily, he has retained his sense of humour among the disappointment.

"I suppose if I don't play again, opposing fans will start talking about me and Stuart (Ripley) as being one-cap wonders," he laughed. "It will make a change from all that talk about the club being one-season wonders."

But there's no reason at all, as Peter Beardsley made clear yesterday, that Wilcox should not have an England future.

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