MIDDLESBROUGH skipper Paul Ince has told England coach Kevin Keegan: "I'm your man to take on the Germans."

Midfield enforcer Ince isn't guaranteed a place in Keegan's squad for the looming World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Finland.

The self-styled 'Guv'nor' was surprised to be left out of the friendly with France this month, when Keegan opted for Chelsea skipper Dennis Wise.

But Ince, 33 next month, fully expects to be named today in Keegan's party for the crucial double-header.

Ince said: "The last game I played for England was against Romania in Euro 2000 and I thought I did very well that night.

"There's no reason, in my opinion, why I shouldn't be in the squad to face Germany. With my experience, I expect to be involved.

"And with it being Germany and the last game at the old Wembley, I definitely want to be part of it."

Ince has won 53 England caps in a glorious career which has spanned spells with West Ham, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Liverpool and Boro.

And aside from staying in Keegan's plans, his aim for this season is to lift a cup with Boro, who saw off the challenge of Third Division Macclesfield in the second round of the Worthington Cup this week.

He said: "The one thing I would like at club level is to carry Boro forward and, hopefully, lift a trophy.

"I seem to have done everything else in my career, but I've never lifted a domestic trophy as a captain."

Macclesfield boss Peter Davenport hopes Ince's wish is granted.

Boro old boy Davenport wants his former club to go all the way. "They are a brilliant club and I loved my time in the North-East at Boro and Sunderland,'' said Davenport.

"I want to wish Boro all the best in the competition. The club has changed a bit since I was there - it's massive now.''

Boro won 3-1 on the night at the Moss Rose Ground, thanks to a Hamilton Ricard hat-trick, to complete a 5-2 aggregate victory.

Davenport added: "In the end it was quite comfortable for them but I think we gave them a bit of a scare.

"My players did themselves a lot of favours, not just here, but over the two legs. We made it difficult for Boro.''

Meanwhile, Boro boss Bryan Robson has continued his disciplinary crackdown.

Robson, who has dished out club fines for dissent this season to the likes of Ince and Ricard, revealed after Tuesday's game that Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender Jason Gavin had been dropped from the squad for "disciplinary reasons'', but refused to elaborate on the nature of the 20-year-old's misdemeanour.

l England captain Tony Adams has insisted that his fitness should not be an issue ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Finland.

The Arsenal centre-back has a demanding schedule of four games in the space of two weeks, which started against Lazio in the Champions League last night and continues at home to Manchester United on Sunday.

With the two England qualifiers following in quick succession on October 7 and 11, there has been some concern over his likely availability given his latest injury problems and the fact that he rarely plays back-to-back games.

However, ahead of Kevin Keegan's official announcement of his squad for those two games today, Adams declared: ''The time is right to put the record straight about my fitness.

''There have been a lot of rumours and a lot of talk from people who don't know.''

He wrote in his programme notes for last night's game at Highbury: ''My target is clear.

''I plan to play between 45 and 50 games this season for Arsenal and I hope to add another half-dozen to that with England.

''I am confident that I will reach those targets. Quite simply, I jarred my back. Nothing more and nothing less.''

Keegan will certainly be counting on his captain to be fit for both matches, especially given that he will be without his injured vice-captain Sol Campbell due to a dislocated shoulder.

The England coach will seek to ensure that he covers all of his potentially troublesome areas when he names what is likely to be an expanded 26-man squad today.

Keegan, who will not be attending a press conference as he comes to terms with the recent death of his mother, is certain to again rely on the foundation stones of the last squad he named.

Only Campbell and Darren Anderton are both definitely absent through injury from the original 24-man squad picked to face France