England soccer manager Kevin Keegan has revealed that Michael Owen will partner Alan Shearer against Scotland this weekend - if he can prove his match-fitness in the build-up to the Euro 2000 play-off.

The England coach has never wavered from his publicly-expressed conviction following the World Cup that Owen and Shearer would be his first-choice strike partnership.

However, just as before England's three previous games, a huge question mark still surrounds Owen's match-fitness - and that could open the door for in-form understudy Andy Cole, while Kevin Phillips also lurks in the wings.

The England boss, who will not publicly name his line-up until just before Saturday's kick-off, must also decide between David Seaman and Nigel Martyn in goal as well as whether to play wing- backs or a back four.

Keegan said: "It's really a case of if Michael's fully fit then there has to be a place in the England side for him because he gives you something.

"You saw what happened against Belgium. Suddenly the defenders went back another five or 10 yards because they're scared about the pace he's got. That helps other players.

"But you can't ignore the things that have happened either. You have to keep it in perspective.

"What's happened between the World Cup and now is that the lad has been out for a while, he has missed a few games and he has gone out again.

"If you talk about him being 100% by Saturday, then in himself, yes I think he will be. He's a young lad and he's very fit.

"But if you're talking about being match-fit then that's where your slight doubt comes in because he hasn't played that many games," he said. (Xinhua)