Kevin Keegan today challenged Nicky Barmby to stake a claim for a place in England's starting line-up in the opening Euro 2000 clash with Portugal in Eindhoven.

Barmby's 20-minute appearance as a substitute in the 2-0 win over Ukraine has reminded the England coach of the talent that Terry Venables and Glenn Hoddle tried to accommodate in their England teams.

The Everton forward, who learned the basics of his trade at Tottenham, did enough against Ukraine to force Keegan to reassess his options for the opening Euro 2000 match on Monday week.

'He's a wonderfully inventive player,' said Keegan. 'He's been superb in training over the last couple of weeks and deserves the chance to stake a claim to a place in the side.'

Barmby, sold by Tottenham to Middlesbrough for £5.25 million, arrived here with Keegan's squad last night to prepare for tomorrow's final warm-up game against Malta.

Keegan is tempted to play him in a game which, apart from providing the opportunity to try one or two fringe members of his squad, was organised in the hope that it might persuade Malta's FIFA member Joseph Mifsud to support England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

The fact that Barmby is comfortable on the left side of the field is a bonus but, like Steve McManaman and Paul Scholes, he is probably best suited to the role just behind the front two strikers.

Scholes, the one midfielder capable of scoring goals, is a must and although I would put Barmby ahead of McManaman in the pecking order he may not get his favoured position in the team if Keegan considers the Manchester United player central to his plans.

Barmby may not be a great goalscorer - 10 for Everton last season - but his three goals in five starts for England is a better ratio than McManaman's two in 22 starts.

Barmby has 12 caps - seven as a substitute - but has never been on the losing side since his debut in a goalless draw with Uruguay at Wembley in March 1995.

That was the year of the 'Famous Five' - Jurgen Klinsmann, Teddy Sheringham, Darren Anderton, Ilie Dumitrescu and Barmby - at Tottenham.

Spurs later sold him to Middlesbrough and they then transferred him to Everton for £5.75m in November 1996.

He's flourished under Walter Smith at Goodison Park and Barmby said: 'He's been a fantastic manager for me.'

But he still retains warm memories of his time at White Hart Lane and he added: 'I really enjoyed playing with Jurgen Klinsmann. I learned an enormous amount from him.

'I'm only 26 and I'm still learning. I've got my head down and I'm working hard in the England training sessions. I've not come along just for the ride.' Barmby was in Venables's Euro 96 squad and made substitute appearances against Switzerland, Holland and Spain.

Keegan has to decide in the next few days whether he can find a place that suits Barmby's talents in his starting line-up against the Portuguese.

He replaced Scholes against Brazil and, in his brief appearance as substitute, probably had a greater influence on the course of the game than McMananam in the full 90 minutes.

'I can't remember a player coming on and making more of an impact for England,' said Keegan.

Malta finished pointless at the bottom of Euro qualifying group eight but gave the Republic of Ireland a fright here last September.

Only a late Steve Staunton free-kick gave the Irish a 3-2 victory and the Republic's manager, Mick McCarthy, recalled: 'They're quite dangerous on their own patch.'