Neville: England career almost over

Although the Manchester United veteran has not completely ruled out pulling on the Three Lions once more, Neville would not be surprised if his 85th cap, won against Spain at Old Trafford in February 2007 proves to be his last.

"To be honest, I am not looking at an England return," he told United Review. "The time has probably come for Glen Johnson or Wes Brown now. They have done very well and I think they are the first-choice players."

He added: "It doesn't mean I would turn down the opportunity if it came but it is not something I am focusing on."

The 34-year-old was called into Fabio Capello's squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra last June and made the bench in the second of those games, without getting called into action.

And with Red Devils team-mate Wes Brown again named as Glen Johnson's deputy at right-back, Neville thinks Capello is now looking elsewhere.

If his theory proves correct, it would leave England's ninth most-capped player one adrift of Kenny Sansom, who tops the full-back chart.

The Bury-born star made his debut against Japan in 1995 and went on to feature in five major tournaments, including Euro 96, when he was an ever-present until being suspended for the semi-final defeat to Germany.

However, he missed the 2002 World Cup due to a broken metatarsal.

As Neville was not part of the United squad for Saturday's draw with Sunderland, his omission by Capello for next week's trip to Ukraine and the concluding World Cup qualifier against Belarus at Wembley four days later was hardly a surprise.