Andy Cole has three days to prove his fitness for Euro 2000 or leave Kevin Keegan facing another enormous hole in his tournament planning.

On the day Keegan's left-sided curse struck down Jason Wilcox and saw the England coach call up Aston Villa's Gareth Barry, it emerged that Manchester United striker Cole is another serious doubt.

He trained yesterday for the first time in almost a month. A toe injury forced him out of United's last four matches of the season. But he will see a specialist on Friday, with Keegan having already decided he cannot be risked against Brazil at Wembley 24 hours later.

With massive question marks remaining over the fitness of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, and possible replacement Michael Bridges ruled out by groin and abdominal problems, Keegan could find himself struggling to fill the five striking berths he has earmarked in his squad.

Keegan said: 'Andy had to have an injection in his toe because it was sore. He will train and hopefully he'll come through it.

'If it doesn't work, we'll have to look again. He had an appointment planned, but we've put that back until he's had three days' training. He'll see the specialist on Friday and he's certainly out of the Brazil game, although

I hope he'll be OK by the time I name the squad for the Ukraine game next Wednesday.'

Cole's body language yesterday suggested he believes the worst, although that may have been more to do with his fears that he will be the striker sacrificed, with Keegan set to gamble on Robbie Fowler's fitness after a season plagued by ankle trouble.

Fowler arrived without any eyebrows after a prank by friends last week, but Keegan was unconcerned. 'I think they know they need to be focused. We've not had any problems with discipline. I've a good group of players.

'If the worst thing that happens is somebody having their eyebrows shaved off, we'll be all right. Robbie did the physical work OK although I wouldn't want to assess him in one day. When I name my 22 you'll know if I think he's fit enough.'

At least Cole and Fowler, unlike Wilcox, have a chance of being in the squad after the Leeds man joined Stuart Pearce and Graeme Le Saux on the list of left-sided injury absentees.

Keegan said he was 'devastated' for the winger, who requires surgery on his long-term knee injury. He added: 'There's absolutely no doubt that he's not fit enough to even start to train. He would have been in the 22.'

Wilcox said: 'I'm bitterly disappointed to have to withdraw but when I spoke to the specialist he said there was no other option.' One man's misfortune is another's opportunity and 19-year-old uncapped Barry said: 'I'm absolutely delighted. I'll be training with world-class players.'

Despite the latest setback, Keegan remained upbeat and confident. He said: 'I feel privileged to be here. I looked at the players, the way they trained and their attitude, and I think the quality is here for us to win a major championship. It's just a case of me getting it right and them helping me get it right.

'We have quality in depth. I'm not sure all the other nations have that. I know there are doubters but we'll get the chance to make them eat their words.'