UGO EHIOGU has revealed his bitter disappointment after being overlooked by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for England's game against Sweden.

Middlesbrough centre-back Ehiogu, included in Eriksson's squad, was a mere spectator as England drew 1-1 at Old Trafford last Saturday.

With Arsenal's Sol Campbell sidelined because of a hamstring injury and his Highbury teammate Martin Keown named in the England party but not involved, Ehiogu had hoped to be given the opportunity to impress and push his claims for inclusion in next summer's World Cup squad.

But his failure to even make the substitutes' bench stuck in the craw of Boro's record £8m signing.

Ehiogu, who had trained under the watchful eye of Boro manager and part-time England coach Steve McClaren, said: "It was disappointing that I didn't get a chance to show what I could do.

"I had sincerely hoped I would get a chance from the start - it's a completely different ball game when you start the match. It was disappointing, although to be included in the squad is a great feeling."

Ehiogu's England career has been restricted to only two substitute appearances in over five years, the last of which was in Eriksson's first game in charge in February when he scored in the 3-0 friendly defeat of Spain at Villa Park.

Boro colleague Gareth Southgate was preferred to Ehiogu to form a central defensive partnership with Leeds United's Rio Ferdinand for the Sweden clash.

Southgate figured in the full 90 minutes despite picking up a slight knock. "He looked quite solid," Ehiogu told Boro's website. "Once Gareth is in that England shirt, he is always in control. When you are starting the game and playing well you make it hard for the manager to leave you out."

But Ehiogu and Southgate will line up alongside each other for Boro this Saturday when they face the prospect of a hostile reception as they return to their former club Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Norwegian starlet Morten Gamst Pedersen is undecided over whether to take up a renewed trial offer from Boro.

Northern Echo Sport revealed Boro's initial interest in Pedersen in October last year, when the Tromso midfielder turned down a trial in favour of a similar spell with Nantes.

But 20-year-old Pedersen, likened by pundits in Norway to David Beckham, rejected a permanent move to the French side and Boro are still keen to take a look at him.

"It's true that we have an official request from Middlesbrough," said Tromso sport director Tore Rismo.

"They have invited Morten on a ten-day training stay with the first team from November 26. We have said that it's okay, but we have said no to him playing any games over there."

Pedersen, however, said: "It's nice to know they are interested, but I have to discuss this with my club first.

"We have new coaches and I want to hear what they think before I take a decision about travelling over or not.

"But it's tempting when we are talking about training with the first team."

Pedersen, who recently made his Under-21 debut, had a trial with Wimbledon when Norwegian Egil Olsen was in charge of the club.

Read more about the Boro here.