Gary Neville joined Sven-Goran Eriksson in admitting his wish that Ryan Giggs was English as he faced up to the challenge of marking his Manchester United team-mate this weekend.

Eriksson has revealed that Giggs is the one British player he would most have liked to include in an ideal England team, especially given his side's weakness on the left flank.

Indeed, he has warned his players to beware the ''frightening'' pace of both Giggs and Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy in Saturday's World Cup qualifier.

Eriksson added: ''You have to be awake as, if Giggs or Bellamy pass you, then they are gone.

''Giggs is a great player. If it was possible for him to become English, I would say he was very welcome.''

The debate over Giggs' nationality is an old, and often misunderstood, one.

Having played nine times for the England schoolboy team - including captaining the side against the Welsh in Swansea - he seemed to be the one that got away.

However, Giggs only ever represented England schoolboys as his school was in England and there was never any question in the winger's own mind as to his nationality.

''I don't think it was ever a case of him having to decide whether to play for England or Wales, as he never had that option,'' said Neville.

''His family are all Welsh and he's very passionate about playing for Wales.''

Not that it has stopped Neville wishing that Giggs had been English as that would have solved the left-sided issue more than a decade ago.

''I wish he was English, Sven has said that as well. Then again, I wish Roy Keane was English too and other fantastic players like Kenny Dalglish,'' added Neville with a smile.

None of which makes the prospect of facing Giggs at Old Trafford seem any less strange or imposing.

However, having just proved his fitness in time, there is surely no better player that Eriksson could have found to outwit Giggs than his long-time club colleague.

''I wasn't sure until last week that I'd be fit for the game,'' admitted Neville, who was injured in England's qualifier in Poland last month.

''But now I have to prepare my mind for being in direct competition with him. You have to be on the absolute top of your game.

''You just hope that, during the game, your team can have a lot of the ball, which means he'll have to be in a defensive position and the service to him will be cut off.

''When he gets the ball, you have to stay on your feet and not dive in.

''He's a fantastic player, one of the best that Manchester United have had. He seems to have been going on forever.

''With that fantastic ability, he's got a superb mentality and work ethic. It's unusual for wingers to have all those but that's what makes him a great player.''

Giggs made his United debut at the age of just 17 and was still 38 days short of his 18th birthday when he first represented Wales as a substitute in Germany.

Since then, he has, just like Northern Ireland international George Best before him, missed out on major tournaments, but Neville still does not underestimate the challenge ahead of him.

''The most difficult opponent I've probably faced was Alessandro del Piero, when he used to play on the left side for Juventus, as I could never seem to get near him,'' he admitted.

''He never played in the exact position. Zinedine Zidane did the same for Real Madrid. They're very difficult to pick up.

''When you're playing against an out-and-out left-winger, you almost know your job. It's more straightforward.

''But I've been playing against Ryan in training and he mixes the two of them very well, drifting in and out.

''Whatever the result though, I won't be thinking that Gary Neville has beaten this or that player. You can't go into a game thinking like that, we just have to focus on our own job.''

It will be some occasion, however, not just for the individuals involved, although Neville admits he is relishing the experience.

''I would say the most memorable game I've played for England was against Scotland at Euro 96, just with the feeling and emotion,'' he said.

''I've experienced that sort of passion occasionally since but not to the same extent. I've always said since then that these Home Nation games are fantastic and I'd love to play in them more often.

''We have another opportunity on Saturday. The build-up to these games is something else.

''I'm sure Wales will show a lot of passion on Saturday, but I'd be very disappointed if we weren't to do the same."