YORK City's second in command Adie Shaw admits David Beckham's injury could put a major dent in England's World Cup hopes.

Said Shaw: "We will have to wait and see just how bad the injury is but since he became captain of the country he has been the leader on the pitch and has done a fantastic job.

"If he does miss out, it will give someone else a chance. But it would still be a big blow if he is ruled out.

"They are saying it is likely to be eight weeks but that depends on a lot of things and it could be that he is back in six weeks or it could be 12."

City's Neville Stamp is also set for an X-ray today on an injured ankle.

The luckless defender suffered the blow while making his comeback for City reserves in their 4-3 defeat to Grimsby Town at Bootham Crescent last night.

Stamp, who has been out for more than two months with a hamstring injury, picked up his latest injury in a challenge with Town's Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

However, while Stamp is facing fresh injury woe City's broken leg victims Peter Duffield and Richard Cooper have enjoyed a double boost.

Duffield, who suffered his third fracture inside 18 months against Luton in February, has been given the green light to step up his training by doctors.

"Everything is fine with Peter," explained City boss Terry Dolan.

"He has already been doing a bit of running but the specialist said there is no reason why he can't step that up."

Cooper, who has been out of action since January with a broken leg, made a return to reserve team action last night, featuring for 30 minutes in the clash with the Mariners.

The second string, who will be relegated from the Avon Insurance League division one, took the lead in the third minute through a John Fielding volley but Grimsby hit back with two goals before the break.

Trialists Robert Purdie and Craig Wilding combined well early in the second half enabling Purdie to level before Grimsby scored another two.

Christian Fox reduced the deficit with a superb free-kick but Grimsby held on.

Shaw confirmed City want to have another look at Purdy, who has just been released from Leicester City at the end of his three-year scholarship, and Wilding, a first year pro at Chesterfield.

"We have asked them to come and train for a couple of days next week and then play in the reserve team game with stoke next Wednesday," said Shaw.

City goalkeeper Russ Howarth and his England Under-20 team-mates saw their preparations for next month's prestigious Toulon Tournament take a knock as they went down 2-0 to Portugal in Amadora last night.

Howarth started the game on the bench with Aston Villa's Boaz Myhill given his first start in goal.

Portugal dominated the first-half and forced England coach Les Reed to make a succession of substitutions at half-time with Howarth earning his third cap at Under-20 level.

England played better after the break but the Portuguese prevailed with late goals from Alves and Jisvi.

Updated: 16:37 Thursday, April 11, 2002