CROCKED Chris Riggott backed Ugo Ehiogu to end two years in the international wilderness last night by forcing his way into Sven-Goran Eriksson's Euro 2004 plans.

Ehiogu's last appearance for his country was as a substitute during the build up to the 2002 World Cup when England lost 2-1 to Italy at Elland Road.

But with Rio Ferdinand ruled out through suspension, Newcastle's Jonathan Woodgate sidelined with a thigh strain and Boro teammate Gareth Southgate struggling with a knee injury, Ehiogu has found himself being talked about as a ready-made replacement.

Riverside boss Steve McClaren, who is wanted by the Football Association to be part of the England coaching staff this summer, has admitted he has talked with Eriksson about Ehiogu's chances.

And now Boro defender Riggott, alongside the former Aston Villa man in defence at Liverpool on Sunday, is convinced his club-mate has a strong a chance of joining centre-backs Sol Campbell and John Terry on the plane to Portugal.

"Ugo's playing well again and if he continues the form he has shown over the past few weeks then he has got to be in with a shout," said Riggott, knowing Anthony Gardner, Ledley King, Wes Brown and Matthew Upson are all in contention.

"We all know Ugo was injured for a big part of the season but he has been doing well for us and I don't see any reason why he should be overlooked."

While Ehiogu hopes Boro's final two Premiership matches - at home to Manchester City and away to Portsmouth - will help him to play a part in this summer's European Championships the same can not be said of Riggott.

Riggott, who had been a doubt with an ankle injury ahead of the trip to Anfield, suffered a recurrence of the problem in the 2-0 defeat to the Reds.

During the first half the Boro defender did further damage to the injury when he challenged for a loose ball with Jonathan Greening and Harry Kewell.

Riggott does not expect to play again this season, meaning McClaren's defensive crisis has got a little worse over the past 48 hours.

As well as having the former Derby man and Southgate missing, Boro are also without Colin Cooper and Andrew Davies for this Saturday's match with City.

It is a further blow to McClaren's slender hopes of finishing eighth - the club's best ever Premiership finish - and now he must decide whether to hand 17-year-old Matthew Bates his full debut or switch Franck Queudrue to centre-back.

Disappointed Riggott said: "It's important that we win the last two games for pride as much as anything else but I won't be playing in them because my ankle is knackered now.

"My ankle has been sore for the past few weeks. It was a case of strapping it up and getting on with it. Unfortunately, though, it was just too sore.

"I went over on it in the first half and that did make things worse. Now I've got to be doubtful for the last couple of games, that's for sure."

It was Riggott's challenge on Michael Owen that led to Liverpool gaining the penalty that allowed Danny Murphy to grab the opening goal against Boro.

But the former England Under-21 international is not convinced that referee Andy D'Urso made the right decision.

"I didn't think there was an awful lot of contact with Michael and I thought I got the ball," said Riggott. "I can honestly say I don't know how the referee could have seen that as a foul.

"I'm very disappointed with the result. We were expecting them to come out at us but we played fairly well and coped with them really."

* PSV Eindhoven striker Mateja Kezman claims Liverpool are among the clubs queuing up to sign him.

''Liverpool are back in the race, that's true. It is a marvellous club with a great history. It would be great to join that club,'' Kezman told De Telegraaf newspaper.

Kezman, one of the most prolific forwards in European football, has spent nearly four years at PSV after he joined them from Partizan Belgrade in July 2000.