GARY Neville will learn within the next 48 hours if he has won a place in England's starting line-up for their World Cup opener with Tunisia.

Bury's most famous footballer faces an anxious wait before learning his fate from coach Glenn Hoddle.

If he gets the nod for Monday's (June 15) Group G clash, it will be the biggest game of the 23-year-old's life, completing a meteoric rise to glory.

France '98 is a far cry from his days playing in the ranks at Bury Juniors!

And the waiting will prove an equally nerve-racking experience for Neville's family back in Bury.

His younger brother and Manchester United teammate, Phil, missed the cut for Hoddle's final 22-man squad and will watch the game from home, along with sister Tracey, a top England netball international in her own right.

Parents Nev and Jill, who head Bury FC's commercial department at Gigg Lane, will be jetting out for the group games in Marseille, Toulouse and Lens to offer their support.

They are keeping tight-lipped about their son's chances of a World Cup starting berth.

Dad Nev would only say: "Myself and the whole family are immensely proud to see Gary out there at the World Cup."

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