Paul Ince has warned Kevin Keegan that if he is not in the Euro 2000 squad to be announced next month, he won't play for England again.

The Middlesbrough midfielder, outstanding in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge that lengthened the odds on Chelsea qualifying for next season's Champions League, said: 'If I am not involved in Euro 2000, I'm definitely finished with international football. I've had a very good season but if I'm not good enough now, what's going to change?'

Ince, 32, a former captain of his country, has found it increasingly difficult to catch Keegan's eye, and has been overtaken by Tim Sherwood, David Batty and lately Dennis Wise in the engine room of the side.

He added: 'There are a lot of young players around, like Lee Bowyer of Leeds and Steve Gerrard of Liverpool, but you need men of experience in major championships. You can't go into them with youngsters like them.

'There's an old saying that you never win anything with kids and I wouldn't argue with that. If I make it with England in the summer, I might go through the World Cup qualifiers and beyond. If not, that will be the end.

'When you are young, you can't do anything wrong and people make excuses for you. But when you've had a bad game and are over 30, everyone says you are struggling.

'I've learned to use my experience to be a 90-minute player. Psychologically, things affect some players when they get to 30 but not me. I look after myself, train properly and eat the correct food.'

Ince appeared with distinction against Scotland in the two Euro 2000 play-off matches at Hampden Park and Wembley six months ago and Boro boss Bryan Robson said: 'Paul has been playing like he's got a point to prove to England. Kevin Keegan has been to watch him and every time he has been outstanding.

'He's back to his best and has had a great season. Because he has the desire and looks after himself, he could extend his career until he is 34 or 35.'

Ince and Wise had a rousing battle for command of midfield as Gustavo Poyet put Chelsea ahead, only for Hamilton Ricard to equalise.

'There was a little bit of edge between Paul and Dennis,' added Robson, 'but Incey likes a challenge and did very well.'

Ince said 'There was nothing to it. It was just our competitive edge coming out.

People might think we are enemies but we are really good mates.'

After dropping two more precious points, Chelsea, in the space of five days, have been forced to lower their sights from competing in the Champions League next season to grasping at a place in the InterToto Cup.

Manager Gianluca Vialli said: 'It is not something I would want ideally but we have to consider the financial situation and the money we have to spend - and that means playing in Europe. If we are not good enough to finish in the top four or win the FA Cup, it will have to be the InterToto.

'That would be very disappointing but we have done our best. What we have to achieve is the winning mentality of Manchester United.'

Chelsea are there today, 20 points behind the new champions when last season they finished only four adrift.

'United will want to celebrate their title,' said Vialli, 'and we cannot expect them to take it easy. They will also remember how we beat them 5-0 last year.

'They have the best manager, the best team, have huge financial resources and are just better than everybody else. They have become a scoring machine.

'I know my team are not going to improve because we have so many players over a certain age. I am just going to have to cut the age down and hope that next season we can get closer to them again.'

But the versatile Poyet, who collected his 16th goal of the season, will be missing on international duty, while Roberto Di Matteo has 'flu.

Worst of all, Vialli heard the boos again at The Bridge, this time for taking off Gianfranco Zola, but he said: 'I am the manager, I have to make decisions and not everybody agrees with them.'

The problem is that Vialli is starting to make the wrong ones. Again, the virus- stricken Graham Rix was missing from the dug-out. Without him, Chelsea have won just once in their last four games... and he might not be at Old Trafford either.

Chelsea :
Poyet 10
(4-4-2): De Goey; Melchiot (Harley, 71), Thome, Desailly, Lambourde; Wise, Deschamps (Morris, 61), Poyet, Ambrosetti; Zola (Flo, 61), Sutton. Entertainment: """
Middlesbrough:
Ricard 37
(3-5-2): Schwarzer; Vickers, Festa, Cooper; Fleming, Mustoe, Ince, Summerbell, Ziege; Deane, Ricard (Camp-bell, 78). Booked: Vickers. Entertainment: """ Man of the Match: Paul Ince