Saints and Trotters see no goals

The proximity of the World Cup ensures that even the most unlikely - and dismally disappointing - fixture is required to carry some international significance. So it was at St Mary's as England new boys Wayne Bridge and Michael Ricketts found their claims for inclusion this summer being pressed vigorously by their respective managers.

Throw in a Premiership debut for world and European champion Youri Djorkaeff, on loan at Bolton in a bid to regain his place in the France squad, and the transformation was complete.

To suggest that left back Bridge did his case a great service against Bolton would be stretching the imagination. Over the season, however, he had done enough to earn his first England cap - a starting place in the recent 1-1 draw in Holland - and attract the attention of wealthier clubs. His Southampton manager, Gordon Strachan, said: 'I just don't think you can leave him out of the England team, irrespective of what anyone else is doing.

'I think he has to go on a level now. You can sniff it in him, he wants success.' Reviews of Ricketts' England debut against the Dutch, were hardly glowing. But Bolton boss Sam Allardyce feels too many have been quick to judge a player who has scored 15 goals in his first Premiership season.

He said: 'The criticism was wrong, totally wrong. But it lifted Michael. He uses that as a positive and hasn't lost the pleasure that being with the England squad has given him. 'The more he's involved, the more he'll find out whether he can or can't do that level.' Ricketts barely got a sniff at goal in a match which saw Southampton's Rory Delap sent off in the dying moments, a rash kick at Stig Tofting earning a second yellow card. Djorkaeff, on loan from Kaiserslauten, showed a few clever touches, flashed a header over from 12 yards and was substituted on the hour. He said: 'I wasn't surprised by my first taste of English football, it was quick and quite physical.' He could be joined at the Reebok soon by Real Madrid defender Ivan Campo, who is close to agreeing a loan deal until the end of the season.