PETER Shilton believes the standard of goalkeepers available to Fabio Capello is worse than it was 15 years ago.

The England legend, who won a record 125 caps for his country, reckons the quality of goalkeeping coaching has declined since he hung up his gloves in the mid-1990s – which has contributed to a steady stream of high-profile mistakes at international level.

Shilton says a lack of technique has been a major factor in no single player being able to make the position his own.

And as England head into tomorrow evening’s World Cup opener against the US, the one-time Wanderer admits he has concerns having seen Capello’s side manage to shut out only Belarus, Kazakhstan, Slovakia and Andorra (twice) in their last 20 games.

“We don’t keep clean sheets like we use to, and that is a major worry,” he said.

“I think our keepers have a lot of natural ability. That’s always been there. But no one actually made the position their own unlike myself or Gordon Banks and David Seaman to a certain extent.

“Both keepers David James and Rob Green are capable of making great saves. But they also have made too many errors. One reason for that is because the technique side has disappeared from goalkeeping coaching in the last 15 years.

“There are too many who can teach exercises and get their keepers diving round, catching crosses and stopping shots. But they’re actually not doing it the right way because there is a lot of technique in goalkeeping.”

Shilton says there is little to choose between the three options at Capello’s disposal – James, Green and Joe Hart – but plumped for Green as the man he would choose between the sticks against the US in Rustenburg.

“I just think it’s his time,” he said. “He’s the right age and has the right experience at international level now.

“He has got better gradually. He had a difficult season at West Ham but didn’t fall apart. So, maybe he just deserves the chance to start.

“He has been pretty solid and we didn’t have that with David James. He had many great games but also had some matches when things weren’t right.”

Shilton believes Hart will eventually become England’s number one, but that James has slipped slightly behind in the pecking order.

“Joe is a young lad who has come up fast,” he said. “And he wouldn’t be in the final squad if Capello didn’t rate him. There are a few little things he can improve on – not faults, because he is still very talented.

“And he’s definitely England’s keeper of the future even if he doesn’t make it this time. However, there’s no one who has established themselves for three or four years and we have said ‘that’s our goalkeeper’.

“We all know what David James is like and he’s not getting any younger. But he’s still younger than I was when I played in Italia 90!.

“He is very experienced but Green is at the age where he is ready for his chance.”

Shilton was in Bolton recently to promote the Tesco Football Roadshow, which encourages participation in sport for five to 11-year-olds. And he recalled his brief spell with Wanderers towards the end of his playing career.

“I came in to help Bruce Rioch out and provide a bit of cover, but ended up playing against Stoke City when the goalkeeper, Aidan Davison, got sent off for giving away a penalty,” he said.

“I didn’t save the penalty but had a really good game and then Bruce put me in the play-off semi against Wolves.

“I remember there was a big crowd, about 29,000 fans, and that Graham Taylor was the manager of Wolves. And though we lost 2-1 I had a bit of a decent match.

“I am glad I played my part in helping Bolton get promotion, which they did by winning at Wembley.”