England have been warned they are in danger of a 'Maltese mugging' in their final warm-up game before Euro 2000.

Next Saturday's friendly in Valetta was originally viewed by the FA as a double attraction.

While offering the chance to court the Maltese vote in England's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, the match was also seen as an ideal bonding exercise for Kevin Keegan's final squad of 22.

But the friendly could turn into Keegan's worst nightmare if Malta adopt the same tactics that outraged Northern Ireland last month, especially Leicester midfielder Neil Lennon.

'The Maltese were not physical, they were just dirty,' said Lennon. 'They lost their heads. They kept coming in with tackles from behind. If it had been a qualifying game some would definitely have been sent off.'

Lennon has no doubts that the risk of injury should be weighing heavily on the minds of Keegan's squad.

'The England boys will have to watch their backs,' he added. 'It might all get a bit dodgy if the Malta players are flying into tackles the way they did against us.'