Seaman ruled out

England goalkeeper David Seaman will be sidelined for three weeks after chipping a bone in his finger.

Seaman suffered the injury during Arsenal's controversial 2-2 draw with Coventry at Highfield Road last Saturday and has since had an X-ray which revealed a fracture.

"It means David will not be able to play for three weeks," revealed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

The injury almost certainly rules Seaman out of England's friendly against Chile at Wembley on February 11th.

Seaman's absence will give 20year-old Austrian understudy Alex Manninger a chance to add to his two appearances for Arsenal this season - against Birmingham and Coventry in the League Cup.

Manninger, a £500,000 buy from Cazino Salzburg, is poised for an FA Cup debut against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium before facing Chelsea.

If Seaman is ruled out of the Chile game, it will give England coach Glenn Hoddle an opportunity to select one of the Arsenal keeper's understudies.

Leeds' Nigel Martyn played in England's 2-0 friendly victory against Cameroon at Wembley on November 15th, when Seaman was on the bench. He and Blackburn's Tim Flowers are likely to be the main contenders, as Tottenham's Ian Walker is currently sidelined by a shoulder injury.