Seaman: No. Number one! (LGriffiths/GettyImages)

The Arsenal goalkeeper has been given a vote of confidence by the England coach, who confirmed today that the 39-year-old was in line to face Slovakia in Bratislava next Saturday and then Macedonia at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium four days later.

Seaman's last appearance for his country was in that fateful World Cup quarter-final against Brazil, when he was caught out from 30 yards for the winning goal.

He was left out of last month's friendly against Portugal because Eriksson wanted to look at West Ham's David James, but he will be confirmed again as England's number one when a 23-man squad is named tomorrow.

'David Seaman will be in my squad when I name it tomorrow,' confirmed Eriksson, who was speaking at Upton Park where he was watching James play for the Hammers against Birmingham.

'I have seen him four or five times this season and he is doing very well.

'I spoke to him one or two days before I named my squad for the Portugal game and told him that as it was a friendly I thought it was fair to see other goalkeepers - it was good for David James to have that game.

'I told Seaman I would not be giving him a game because I wanted to look at the other goalkeepers, but I told him that if he wanted to carry on playing then I have nothing against age and that it was up to him to prove he should be one of my three goalkeepers, and he was happy with that

'Now and then you have goalkeepers playing until they are 40. Dino Zoff was around the age of 40 when Italy won the World Cup in 1982, so it is possible, and how old was the Russian, Yashin, when he stopped playing? - I don't know.

'Seaman may not be around in two years but we have to qualify for Euro 2004 and I think you should pick the best team every game otherwise you risk not qualifying.'

Eriksson insisted he was not picking Seaman just to give him the chance to wipe out the memories of what happened in the Korea and Japan finals in the summer - when the veteran goalkeeper left the Brazil match in tears following his error.

'I don't think he should play another game just because of that,' said Eriksson. 'I think he deserves to play because he is still playing very well. Besides, he saved us so many times in the qualifying games and also had a very good World Cup.'

Seaman has been criticised this season, in particular for goals he conceded for Arsenal against Chelsea and then Bolton, but Eriksson added: 'I think that happens to every player whether you are a goalkeeper, defender or whatever.'

Eriksson will name three goalkeepers in his squad to travel to Slovakia on Tuesday, with Leeds' Paul Robinson is likely to claim the final spot behind Seaman and James. Those three are ahead of Liverpool's Chris Kirkland and Nigel Martyn - who has fallen behind Robinson at Elland Road - in the reckoning.

'If you talk about goalkeepers then I think James is playing better and better, Robinson is doing very well, Kirkland is a good one but he never plays so it is difficult, and it is the same with Martyn.'

Eriksson is hoping that a virtual full strength squad - barring injuries from the four Premiership games being played tomorrow - will help get England's Euro 2004 qualifying campaign off to a flying start.

He said: 'There seems to be very few injured players - it is only really Robbie Fowler - and that makes a nice change. It makes a lot of difference if you can choose 23 of the best and I have always maintained that if we have everyone fit and available then we have an extremely good team and I think we can compete with any country.

'Of course it is very important to get off to a good start. We know that Slovakia is a good team, especially at home, and we know Turkey have an excellent team, so the group is not easy. To have a good start in the first game in Slovakia would be very good.