Paul Ince has ridiculed suggestions that he has decided to end his international career in the wake of England's early exit from Euro 2000. It had been widely reported that the Middlesbrough midfielder was the most likely member of Kevin Keegan's squad to follow Alan Shearer into retirement from the international arena. But 32-year-old Ince has hit back by announcing that if still wanted, he is available.
"It's absolute rubbish to suggest my England career is over and that I've decided to call it a day on the international scene," Ince said in The Mail on Sunday. "Kevin Keegan has said publicly that all the players, even those like me the wrong side of 30, have a part to play in the England set-up. I understand Kevin has already indicated he sees me as part of his plans for the World Cup qualifying campaign. It would've been easy to quit if I'd had a nightmare at Euro 2000 but I don't think I did."
And Ince, who earned his 52nd cap against Romania, said: "I wouldn't like to go out on the disappointing note that Alan Shearer suffered in Charleroi last Tuesday."
