Two's company; three's a crowd but only one will be first choice

James, Green and Hart all vying for a starting berth as England goalkeeper which coach Capello says he knows but none of the candidates are any wiser.

David James, the Portsmouth goalkeeper, inset, will start the World Cup as England's No 1, says Tony Coton, with Robert Green, below and Joe Hart, left, providing back-up.

If only England could negotiate having a coalition custodian at No 1 in the same way the country's politicians have, life would be far easier for Fabio Capello, the national team's manager. But three into one does not go when it comes to the goalkeeping jersey. Capello, the Italian, has stated that he already knows who his first-choice will be between the posts when the World Cup starts in South Africa. However, nobody else, least of all the three candidates, seems any the wiser.

David James, who is thought to be leading the race at the moment, is not complaining. "The idea of having a sort of standout No 1 and no competition wouldn't go right with how Mr Capello has his teams organised," James, the Portsmouth goalkeeper, was quoted as saying yesterday. However, Tony Coton, the former Manchester City shot-stopper, who went on to play for and then become a celebrated goalkeeping coach across the city with rivals United, does not agree that the situation is a healthy one.

"Alex Ferguson [the Manchester United manager] said that was why he bought me when I was 35," remembers Coton, who made 500 appearances over his 21 year playing career. "Peter [Schmeichel] knew that his place [as United No 1] was never under threat, so he bought me to give an edge to his game. It is all about how you adapt to the situation, and everyone is different. "There is another way to look at it. In some ways it is great to know you are the No 1 and if you do make a mistake you are not going to be left out for the next game.

"I was in the latter category. In all my time in football, I was only dropped for three games, by [the then Watford manager] Dave Bassett. "In all honesty, it is best going into games knowing that you are the No 1, but without resting on your laurels." James is expected to start in Sunday's friendly against Japan in Austria, having been given Monday night off as England played Mexico. While Joe Hart, the City goalkeeper, looked untroubled in the second half of the 3-1 victory, Robert Green was the biggest winner against the Mexicans.

The West Ham No 1 caught the eye with two fine saves before making way for Hart at the interval. However, Coton expects Capello to plump for the experience of James when England kick off their campaign against the USA in Rustenberg on June 12. "David James has been relegated with Portsmouth but still had a reasonably good season," added Coton. "Joe Hart has been the one who has been consistent, and has played magnificently well all season [on loan for Birmingham]. "Is that going to be enough to make him the No 1 at the World Cup finals? I don't think it will be. It is out of David and Rob, and I have a feeling he will go for David James." @Email:[e-mail]