England great Gordon Banks believes David James should be ahead of Richard Wright in the European Championship race for places - even though Kevin Keegan has pledged support for the Ipswich goalkeeper.

Banks would pick James as England's third man despite the error that cost Aston Villa the FA Cup Final against Chelsea on Saturday.

Maestro Banks, who was in England's goal when they won the 1966 World Cup Final and made a legendary save from Pele when England played Brazil in 1970, said: 'Wright would make me very nervous turning out for England. I don't think he has the necessary experience because he hasn't played in the Premiership.'

But Keegan appears certain to name Wright when he announces his squad for Euro 2000 on June 1.

He has included the 22-year-old in five previous squads and said: 'The only way I would change things is if something happened to one of the two goalkeepers, David Seaman of Arsenal and Nigel Martyn from Leeds. They pick themselves but if push came to shove I would look for the more experienced goalkeeper.'

There has been a doubt about Martyn, who has been troubled by a knee injury. But Keegan said yesterday: 'If there was something wrong with him, I would have told you. I wanted James to come and join us at our training headquarters. I have to wait for Wright because he has a big game coming up, the First Division play-off against Barnsley at Wembley on Monday, and anything can happen. So I am still looking at the situation.'

But Banks, arguably the best goalkeeper England ever had at a time when there was a wealth of talented rivals around, is convinced James should get the vote over Wright.

He said: 'James has played against international players in the Premiership and would be a little more relaxed. He might make the odd mistake but Seaman might too.

There is no goalkeeper in the world who doesn't make them.'

James, 29, was distraught after Saturday's Final when he fumbled a cross that allowed Roberto Di Matteo to fire the winner for Chelsea.

But Keegan said: 'Saturday did not concern me. Goalkeepers, by their very nature, are the last line of defence. They make mistakes and he held his hands up. All the keepers I have here have made mistakes over the season.'

It was an error that left Banks unconcerned, too. He said: 'I sympathise with James because I dropped a cross in the 1963 FA Cup Final that allowed Manchester United to score against Leicester.

'However, he's had an excellent season, he got them to Wembley with his two saves in the penalty shoot-out against Bolton and what happened on Saturday will be forgotten in a couple of weeks.'

Compared with the days of Banks, there now seems to be a dearth of good goalkeepers and Keegan has little material to work with apart from Seaman and Martyn.

There are only seven English goal-keepers in the Premiership and, of those four currently outside the international scene, Leicester's Tim Flowers and Ian Walker of Tottenham have played for their country but been discarded. That leaves Paul Gerrard of Everton and Bradford's Matt Clarke.

Keegan has consistently sought the advice of his goalkeeping assistant Ray Clemence and reached the conclusion that Wright represents England's future with the 2002 World Cup qualifiers beginning in four months' time.

Taking Wright to Euro 2000 will give him experience and a sample of international football at the highest level - and by the new season he could be in the Premiership anyway with Ipswich.