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England's most-capped goalkeeper Peter Shilton believes the time is right for David Seaman to retire from international football.

Seaman's early blunder against Macedonia cost England dearly on Wednesday.

And Shilton, who won 125 England caps, believes the 39-year-old Arsenal keeper should now step down before he is forced out.

I felt there were signs that David was losing his edge

Peter Shilton

"The best keepers make the fewest mistakes and David is making too many," Shilton said.

"I have always been a fan of David's. He is a superb professional who has given great service.

"It would be a terrible shame if he hung on until he was hounded out."

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Shilton was 41 when he won his last cap for England.

But he believes Seaman would have retired at the end of the World Cup, had he not had a point to prove.

David Seaman
Seaman dropped a clanger against Macedonia
Seaman's mistake against Macedonia followed a high-profile error in the World Cup quarter-final against Brazil in June, when he was beaten by a long-range Ronaldinho free-kick.

"I think David would have quit after the World Cup in June if he hadn't made that mistake against Brazil," said Shilton.

"But we all like to go out on a high so what happened made him determined to go on and try to make up for it.

"I felt there were signs in the 18 months leading up to the World Cup that David was losing his edge.

"But I still felt it was right that he started the finals because of his experience.

"I chose my time when to finish and told then England manager Bobby Robson before the 1990 World Cup finals," Shilton told The Sun newspaper.

Number one candidates

David James (West Ham). Age: 32. Has 10 caps and boasts the experience to step in.

Paul Robinson (Leeds). 23. Elland Road number one but still uncapped at international level.

Richard Wright (Everton). Age 24. First-team football at Everton has boosted his international hopes.

Chris Kirkland (Liverpool). 21. England Under-21 keeper but without first-team football at Liverpool.

Nigel Martyn (Leeds). 36. Seaman's deputy in recent years but chance appears to have gone.

Seaman's time up? Have your say

Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson is being touted to take over from Seaman, who boasts 75 England caps.

But at the age of 23 and with only 28 Premiership games under his belt, the England opening may have come too soon for the rising star.

West Ham's David James is more likely to step in should Seaman retire.

But the 32-year-old former Liverpool keeper has refused to push his claims for the England number one shirt.

"I don't write headlines - it's up to journalists what they want to write," said James, who was England's reserve keeper against Macedonia.

"The disappointing thing on Wednesday, from everyone's point of view, was that we didn't get three points, regardless of how their goals came.

"It's a team event and the fact we didn't win is frustrating enough. Things just didn't go our way."

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