Neville and Le Saux - fighting to be Cole's understudy.

By Reece Killworth, Sportinglife.com

INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE

"If the Nevilles can play for England, so can I."

So goes the chant from opposition fans up and down the country when the Manchester United duo take to the field.

But that shows a lack of respect to the brothers as Gary and Phil Neville are already halfway to passing the Charlton's record of 143 caps.

Phil accounts for 35 of those - a sound tally for a 25-year-old - since making his international debut against China just prior to Euro 96.

Unfortunately his international career was blighted at Euro 2000 when he was fingered as the main reason behind England's exit.

Neville's clumsy trip on Viorel Moldovan of Romania did actually prove to be the final nail in the coffin - but failing to turn a 2-0 lead over Portugal into three points surely deserved more criticism than one mistimed tackle.

What you see is what you get with Neville and there is always the fear that he will be ripped apart by the best in the world.

But mistakes, like the one he made against Romania, are far from the norm.

Two things stick in the mind from Graeme Le Saux's international career - and unfortunately for the Chelsea man a mistake against Romania is one of them.

Failing to outmuscle Dan Petrescu handed the Romanians a valuable victory in the group stages of the World Cup in 1998 and earned Le Saux a good deal of criticism.

How the 'mighty' had fallen after his wonderful goal against the Brazilians in 1995.

At that stage Le Saux looked to have a lengthy England career ahead of him, but injury and more recently the appointment of Sven-Goran Eriksson have stalled his international hopes.

Although he has probably outperformed Neville on his appearances for England, that lack of action counts against him and means the duo are all-square.

Neville 6/10 Le Saux 6/10.

FORM THIS SEASON

Outsiders will look at the Manchester United goals against column and think all of the defenders have been poor.

But Neville has been one of the most consistent performers in the side this season.

While even the likes of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs have struggled on occasions, Neville has been reliable week-in week-out and has really come of age - impressing as both a right-back and a left-back.

The reason Sir Alex Ferguson picks Neville is because he knows what he will get from the Bury-born youngster - a 100% committed performance.

Le Saux has also hit a good run of form this season, which has led to calls for him to return to the England line-up.

The Channel Islander has impressed as either a left-back or in left-midfield, where his marauding runs have proved a dangerous tool for Chelsea.

The problem - and this is where Le Saux loses out - is that there still seems to be something bubbling under the surface.

His tackle on Danny Mills at Elland Road was scandalous, although admittedly he later apologised for it, and he seems to regularly walk a disciplinary tightrope.

As well as picking up six bookings, Le Saux has also failed to find the net this season while Neville has hit the target twice.

The fact that Neville is pushing forward enough to get shots in shows how much his confidence has grown and the quality of his finishes is a clear sign of how good is form is.

That's why he edges it from Le Saux.

Neville 8/10 Le Saux 7/10.

PACE

Neither man is blessed with lightning pace, which makes them vulnerable to speedy wingers, yet both can hold their own.

When pushed forward into midfield, Le Saux has shown he has the turn of pace needed to beat his man something Neville doesn't seem to possess - and that's enough for the Chelsea man to edge it.

Neville 6/10 Le Saux 7/10.

AERIAL ABILITY

Neville is often the target when opposing teams look to put the United defence under pressure.

But although he may struggle against the taller strikers like Niall Quinn, he is no slouch in the air.

He also has the nous to know how to make things difficult for his opponents even if he doesn't win the ball.

Le Saux is an inch shorter than Neville which gives him a slight disadvange, but he possesses better spring which makes it impossible to separate the two.

Neville 7/10 Le Saux 7/10.

DISTRIBUTION

On the rare occasions that Neville has been pushed into midfield, his distribution is the thing that has let him down.

He possesses the strength in the tackle to win the ball - which he regularly demonstrates in his usual full-back position - but then seems at a loss as to what to do with it.

Don't get me wrong, he can play the short, simple passes which is all you can usually expect from a defender.

But Le Saux is more expansive with the ball at his feet.

Not only can he do the simple things well but he also has a better range of passing.

He is not as comfortable on the ball as someone like Rio Ferdinand but his ability to hit long and short balls sees him edge out Neville.

Neville 6/10 Le Saux 7/10.

POSITIONAL SENSE

This season has been Neville's best for United and he has come on leaps and bounds as a defender.

There always used to be doubts about his positional sense - highlighted by the penalty he conceded against Romania - but he has now silenced those critics.

Le Saux, on the other hand, always looks a little too keen to get forward and can get stranded upfield as he breaks in support of his midfielders and strikers.

Neville 7/10 Le Saux 6/10.

TOTALS: Neville 40 Le Saux 40.

Sportinglife.com verdict:

It's impossible to separate Neville and Le Saux in our categories yet it's almost certain the Manchester United man will travel to the Far East as Ashley Cole's understudy.

If fit, he will keep out Le Saux as he has done for much of his international career.

There must be something to the Chelsea defender that Eriksson doesn't like - and I can only think it is his suspect temperament.

Eriksson knows what Neville's club manager Sir Alex Ferguson knows - the defender will give him a battling, no-frills display whenever called upon.

He may not provide the threat that Le Saux does as he overlaps but his ability in defensive positions allied to his versatility will almost certainly see him hold off the challenge of Le Saux.