England are to take on Mexico and Holland later this year as warm-up games under Sven-Goran Eriksson ahead of the testing World Cup qualifiers away to Greece and Germany - but the North-East has missed out on the chance to host a match.

Instead of a return to the Stadium of Light or making use of St James' Park or the Riverside, Derby's Pride Park ground will host its first full international when England play the Mexicans on Friday, May 25, while Tottenham's White Hart Lane will be the venue for the game against Holland on Wednesday, August 15.

The announcements of the Nationwide friendly internationals were made after Eriksson and Leicester coach Peter Taylor, who is on his backroom staff, had been consulted about the best preparations for the World Cup qualifiers.

England face two World Cup qualifiers in March, against Finland and Albania, but all being well much will still be riding on the game away to Greece on June 6 and the trip to Germany on September 1.

As for the friendly against Mexico, the FA explained: ''Sven and Peter were consulted over the various fixtures available to England on this date.

''Both agreed that Mexico will provide the most suitable opposition as part of their preparation for the World Cup qualifying fixture in Greece.''

Derby's previous home, the Baseball Ground, hosted England's 2-1 win against Ireland back in 1911 and this game at Pride Park which has a smaller capacity than some other grounds is a reward for the club. It has been noted at the FA that Derby have packed Pride Park twice in the past two years for England Under-21 internationals against France and Germany.

A couple of days after that friendly the England squad will set off for a week-long training camp at La Manga in southern Spain to acclimatise to the heat they will experience in Greece.

They will leave La Manga, where Glenn Hoddle controversially left Paul Gascoigne out of his 1998 World Cup squad, about three days before the fixture to fly directly to Greece to continue their preparations.

After a summer break, the England players are then almost immediately back in action because their qualifier away to Germany, whose 1-0 win at Wembley last year led to Kevin Keegan's resignation, takes place on September 1.

The August 15 date for their warm-up friendly against Euro 2000 semi-finalists Holland, deemed to be similar opposition to the Germans, will probably fall just a couple of days after the first Premiership game of the season.

That is likely to test the patience of some Premiership managers but several other countries, such as France, are playing that night and it is unthinkable England should not have some preparation before facing Germany.

England last played a senior international at White Hart Lane in 1949 and this match marks a return to London after fixtures at Villa Park, Anfield and Pride Park.

With Wembley out of use for at least another three years, Old Trafford is reported to have been earmarked for any home play-off match.

FA director of marketing Paul Barber said: ''We are delighted that two such excellent venues will be hosting England fixtures.

''This shows the FA's publicly-stated commitment to taking England on the road.'