PAUL Bosvelt is hoping that a nightmare start to life in English football will not crush his Euro 2004 dream.

But if City's Dutch midfielder doesn't make the final cut for the European Championships, he will not be pinning the blame on Joey Barton or Kevin Keegan.

"The way Joey has been playing he has to be picked," said the experienced midfielder who was one of the star performers in the Blues' 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

"It is natural that he should be in the side, he is young full of energy and the future of Manchester City. People talk about me versus Joey for a place in the side but it is not only the two of us. His performances have been excellent and he has to be picked."

Bosvelt returned from a seven-match exile to take a lead role in Keegan's re-jigged five-man midfield against Liverpool and the manager reckoned it was his summer purchase's best performance since the move from Feyenoord.

Terrific

"I think Paul Bosvelt came in and did terrific, I thought he was tremendous," Keegan said. "He showed what he can do probably for the first time here."

The 33-year-old Dutchman's aim now is to stay in the side though he insists his priorities are City first and the Holland team second.

"I had to wait a while to get my chance and it was important that I took it against Liverpool," he agreed. "I felt I did fine but when you have not been playing it is hard to maintain the pace for the full 90 minutes.

"I thought we were a little unfortunate not to have won the game and that has been a familiar story recently but the spirit here is fine and sticking together is the only way out of a run of poor form.

"It has been frustrating for me waiting for my chance again but you have to keep going. When you are out of the side the only way to get back in is to show the right attitude in training and make the manager's choice as difficult as possible.

"The five man midfield made a difference against Liverpool but I feel I can fit into most systems. It is all about the team performance and the way we played in the first half the other day made it more enjoyable for everyone in the side."

Bosvelt admits he has found the switch from the Dutch to the English Premier League a difficult one but is sure that he can make a big impression from now until the end of the season.

"When you move like I did it is essential to play as much as possible because then you get more energy and more rhythm. It didn't happen like that so now I have had to await my chance and grab it," he said.

"I have ambition to play in Euro 2004 and not being in the side here will not help that, but that is only the second part of the equation. The first is to make sure I do my best for Manchester City.

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