ERMELO, Netherlands, June 10 (Reuters) - Forward Ricardo Sa Pinto and midfielder Paulo Sousa are doubtful for Portugal's opening Euro 2000 match with England in Eindhoven on Monday.

Team doctor Joao Paulo Almeida told reporters on Saturday that Real Sociedad forward Sa Pinto had had a scan in hospital on his twisted right knee and would need further checks.

Parma's Paulo Sousa, who also has a right knee injury, was back in training with the team but will be watched closely in final training on Sunday.

'He (Sa Pinto) went to hospital. Things are better than we thought at the beginning but it's a matter of waiting for some more time to see how it comes along,' said Almeida.

'It's a matter of waiting for the next 24 hours. It's too early to say whether he's ready to play or not.

'We will have to wait until tomorrow at least for an update on his injury.'

Assistant coach Rui Cacador said Paulo Sousa, European Cup winner with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, was improving well and 'at the moment we are pleased with the situation.'

'But we still have one more training tomorrow evening and we will make the final decision then.'

Asked by Portuguese reporters whether there was anything sinister in the fact that Paulo Sousa had trained with the squad behind closed doors, Cacador insisted there was nothing to hide on the injury front.

Sporting Lisbon's Angolan-born midfielder Jose Vidigal had also been a concern but he is now fit.

Forward Joao Pinto, third on his country's all-time list with 18 international goals, said the group A clash would be a very tough challenge for Portugal but he was confident the team were up to the task.

'It's always good to score goals and I'm ready to score more,' said Pinto, who is currently without a club after leaving Benfica this month.