THREE into one WILL go as far as Terry Venables is concerned at Euro 96.

But, for Tim Flowers and Ian Walker, number two is what counts.

Ewood star Flowers, who began against China yesterday, and Tottenham's Walker, who replaced him as a 64th minute sub, are the men battling to be England's next-choice keeper behind David Seaman when the championships kick off at Wembley in a fortnight's time.

And there is no doubt that Walker, son of former Norwich and Everton boss Mike, is a genuine threat to Flowers' hopes of holding onto the main back-up role.

Venables' decision to give them both a taste of the action in China last night suggests he has not made up his mind about the pecking order.

Yet the battle might already have been over.

For, originally, it seemed as though he would name only two keepers in a 20-strong squad for Euro 96.

But the England coach was a leading figure in persuading UEFA to increase the size of the squads to 22 which allows him to have the insurance of three goalkeepers.

"The fact that we'll have three keepers this summer is a good situation for me," said Walker.

"If you could only really take two keepers, I don't know whether I would even have got a chance before the summer, especially if I'd been looked upon as the third one."

Venables opted for Flowers and Walker to provide the back-up, ahead of men like Liverpool's David James who has also had an impressive season.

And the warning to the Rovers man came at Wembley last Saturday when Walker got the call against Hungary for his first international cap, while Flowers looked on as a spectator.

Game on!

Walker, in fact, had very little to do but he did the important thing - kept a clean sheet - and the battle has started to see who goes on the bench when England take part in the real thing.

His introduction to the international scene was very sedate but he clearly means business in the rivalry with Flowers.

"I was hoping for a nice introduction, a few back passes and a cross I could handle fairly comfortably. I only got one and that was all right," he said.

"The good thing was that I took it nice and easy and that was it. The first thing is not to make an immediate mistake.

"I don't know if I've gone above Tim. I know he had quite a rough ride at the start of the season.

"But he's come through it extremely well and played brilliantly at the end.

"I've got to keep my game together and leave it up to Terry."

Seaman looks an obvious starter against Switzerland on June 8, but who will be the keeper on the bench?

There haven't been any real clues so far from Venables, and there probably won't be until he actually names his squad for the opening game of Euro 96.

June '95 wasn't particularly happy for Flowers, as he had a rough time in the Umbro Cup.

It has been a long haul back for him and last night's start was his first at international level since then.

But I suspect, when it comes to the crunch, the Ewood man's greater experience will just tip the balance and he'll keep his job as Seaman's deputy.

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