Rolls-Royce Brown ready to motor

Brown will feature for Platt's young side against Portugal on Tuesday evening but has been told by senior boss Sven Goran Eriksson the door is still ajar for him to force his way on to the plane to the Far East.

Eriksson believes that it will be more beneficial for Brown to play 90 minutes for the Under-21s, rather than a stop-start 45 minutes in the senior team's Wednesday friendly against Paraguay.

The Manchester United centre half has only just returned from a four-month injury lay-off and is short on match fitness.

He made his second substitute appearance on the comeback trail against Deportivo La Coruna last week and Platt believes that answers any question marks over the defender's fitness.

Platt said: "I don't think there's a question mark over somebody who plays in a Champions League quarter final.

"Wes's potential has been there. He's like a Rolls-Royce, there's always something left in him and but for his bad luck with injuries, you could argue he'd be in the senior team by now.

"It's not too late for him or any of them."

Brown himself is determined to grasp any invitation to gatecrash the World Cup party after being a regular member in Eriksson's squads prior to his injury.

The 22-year-old, though, admits that while he would be overjoyed to be involved in the summer, he would be equally happy to line up for England in the European Under-21 Championships next month.

"I wasn't sure I'd be ready in time because it's getting late on in the season and I have to see this chance as a bonus," said Brown.

"I'm feeling good and you've always got to hope. It could be your one chance in a lifetime, you may never be asked again.

"But if I were to be selected for the Under-21 squad, I would be happy to play in Switzerland and we'd be looking to win that as well.

"I'll just play my football and let other people decide."