TWO OF Glenn Hoddle's England predecessors united yesterday to urge the coach to make Paul Gascoigne the first name on his team sheet in France this summer.

Bobby Robson and Terry Venables each told Hoddle to forget more unsavoury headlines over the past few days and concentrate on qualities that included, according to Robson, being able to see the pass no-one else can see . The pair were backed up by Gazza's former England team-mate John Barnes, who told a press conference unveiling all three as part of ITV's World Cup coverage team, that Gascoigne was the most naturally fit player I have ever worked with .

All three laughed off weekend stories about Gascoigne's personal life and another ill-advised drinking session in central London, with Venables insisting: We know the problems that come with Gazza but it's worth the trouble. At the moment he is testing Glenn a little bit but I don't mean testing him deliberately. He's not scheming. He's just like a lad who wants to be cheeky and mischievous, there's not much more in it than that.

''We haven't got anyone else like him. He is a match-winner. To get to the World Cup Final and win it, you have to have goalscorers who score on a consistent basis. You have to have a world-class striker, which we have in Alan Shearer, but you also need a midfield player who will score special goals and put fear into the opposition.

''More than that, Gazza is good for the dressing room. The players love to be with him, he is infectious, not frightened of the opposition and takes everyone else along with him.