© Reuters 2002

MANCHESTER, England, March 3 (Reuters) - Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan hailed striker Shaun Wright-Phillips as a future England international after City had boosted their English first division promotion chances on Sunday.

Wright-Phillips, the adopted stepson of former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright, scored twice as City beat Coventry City 4-2 at Maine Road to close the gap on leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers to five points. "Shaun Wright-Phillips will play for England," Keegan told City's website.

"Bill Shankly (former Liverpool manager) once said that of me and I did go on to play for England. "I am saying it now about Wright-Phillips. He will play for England, it is just a case of when. It might be a year or two but he will play for England because he has got everything."

Keegan, the former Liverpool forward who won 63 caps for England, also praised Darren Huckerby, who opened the scoring against his former club after 15 minutes.

Coventry's Lee Mills equalised for Coventry four minutes later before Danny Tiatto and Wright-Phillips's first put City 3-1 ahead at halftime.

The 20-year-old helped himself to another 19 minutes from time with a delightful chip before Mills's second goal provided Coventry with a late consolation.

City have two games in hand on Wolves - whom they meet at Molineux in a possible championship-decider on April 1.