NEW England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson yesterday refused to give Middlesbrough skipper Paul Ince any guarantees over his international future.

Ince was in inspired form against former club Liverpool as Boro threatened to upset the odds in Saturday's goalless draw at Anfield.

Swede Eriksson, who watched Sunderland draw a blank against Bradford City at the Stadium of Light 24 hours later, stayed in the region for a top-level consultation yesterday with Boro head coach Terry Venables and manager Bryan Robson.

Eriksson visited Boro's £10m state-of-the-art training complex at Hurworth and spent half an hour in private talks with former England boss Venables and his Euro 96 right-hand man Robson.

Boro's management duo both believe Ince still has much to offer his country, but Eriksson was non-committal about whether the 33-year-old will be part of his plans when he names his first squad for the friendly against Spain at Villa Park next month.

Ince has already endorsed the midfield claims of Liverpool's 20-year-old star Steven Gerrard, and Eriksson said: "There are many good players. I will try to see as many as possible, and try to talk to as many managers as possible, before the first friendly game.

"Experience is always important, of course, but we will see. We have more than one month to think about it."

Eriksson stressed how much he values the views of predecessor Venables. "He is an extremely good manager, he has worked in other countries and he knows everything about international football," he said.

"He has done this job before me and it is very important that I have a good relationship with him, and also the other managers in the Premier League."

Eriksson was hugely impressed with Boro's Rockliffe Park base.

"This place is beautiful, I think you can work very well here," said Eriksson, speaking to Boro's website.

Meanwhile, Boro defender Gianluca Festa, undergoing treatment for a thigh injury, is expected to be fit for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against either Notts County or Wimbledon.

l Former Boro midfielder Paul Gascoigne is out for another month. The Everton midfielder was on the brink of a senior comeback, but has suffered a recurrance of the thigh muscle tear that has already ruled him out since November 5. Gazza will need further minor surgery and won't play again now until late-February.