Kevin Keegan has given me a wonderful chance to end my international career in style and if Euro 2000 does turn out to be my England farewell, I intend to make the most of an opportunity that I thought had passed me by.

When the dust has settled on the European Championship, I will decide whether to call it a day - but only after talking to Kevin, Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson and my wife, Claire.

I can't overstate the importance that Robson, one of England's most inspirational skippers, has had on reviving my international career. He showed great faith by signing me and he has supported me when I was vilified by many others.

It would have been easy for Robbo to turn his back so I'm well aware of my debt to him and to Middlesbrough.

From the point where my international career was going nowhere at Liverpool, I'm now part of an England squad convinced that we have a great chance of glory at Euro 2000.

The change from my final days at Anfield, where I was jettisoned by Gerard Houllier, could not be more marked.

I felt very down in the final days at Liverpool, when I think I deserved to be treated with a little more respect by Houllier.

He was looking for something different and I understood and accepted that, but just to tell me during the pre-season that I was not part of his plans was, I thought, rather harsh and he could have handled it better.

It was important for me to do a job somewhere else and I think I did that at Middlesbrough, where I felt I played some of the best football of my career, although a hernia operation set me back a few weeks.

It was significant that I managed to get back into the England squad playing for Robbo and Boro, while I hadn't been able to do that while I was at Anfield. I regard that as an achievement, especially when results hadn't gone as well as I would have liked.

When I make my final decision on England, Claire will have a major part to play. In fact, she will probably be the most important person in the debate.

My family life takes on an everincreasing importance, especially now the children are starting to grow up. It is extra important as far as I'm concerned because Claire is expecting another baby in October.

Playing for England will always be one of the great thrills of my life and I will give it maximum effort whenever I am involved but other priori-ties have to be considered.

England teammate and skipper, Alan Shearer, has already announced his international retirement after Euro 2000. He has taken the decision in the prime of his career and England will miss a player who has proved he can still score more goals than most at the highest level. But I understand his reasons and they are as valid to me as they are to him.

It would be marvellous if I could repay the faith Kevin has shown in me by playing a part in what could be England's finest hour since the 1966 World Cup.

I have been concerned in the past

My that a succession of England coaches decided they could do without me. When I was at Inter Milan, Terry Venables did not select me for a year before I got back into the side for Euro 96.

I feared the worst again after I was sent off in the first qualifying match for this European Championship in Sweden, when Glenn Hoddle was in charge.

Getting banned for three games was a major setback, especially when I did not feel I should have been red-carded. I made two tackles that were neither vicious nor dangerous but, for a few years now, it has seemed you could not afford to be competitive in your challenges.

I was severely criticised and put back in the wilderness. When Glenn and then Kevin continued not to pick me, I wondered whether I was paying the price for Sweden. Fortunately, Kevin was impressed enough with my form at Middlesbrough to give me another chance.

My current England role is a familiar one - a holding position in midfield. At Middlesbrough, I have to take more responsibility for trying to make things happen further upfield but for England, Kevin has made me realise I can't keep bombing up and down and winning other people's battles.

It is going to be increasingly difficult to stay involved with the crop of young players who are coming through. Steven Gerrard has done really well and you wonder whether it is time to step aside and give someone like him a chance.

But I am not going to make it that easy for the next lot and I don't think other 'veterans' like Dennis Wise will either.

If the likes of Gerrard are to win England places, they are going to have to earn them. That's how it should be and I hope it will not be at my expense over the next month or so in Holland and Belgium.

When I eventually leave the England scene, hopefully having lifted the Euro 2000 trophy, I want to provide a legacy for the next generation that has been important to me from my first England game.

It is that to pull on your country's shirt is the greatest honour a player can have.