It seems appropriate that Northern Ireland's last line of defence this afternoon is expected to be a former soldier.

Ex-Saint Maik Taylor looks like being handed the job of trying to keep out favourites England in the World Cup qualifier.

He is being widely tipped to win the goalkeeper's jersey - and his 43rd cap - ahead of Roy Carroll, even though he is on home soil at Old Trafford.

However, Carroll has lost his place at Manchester United after a Champions League blunder against AC Milan.

In contrast Taylor, 33, was impressive last weekend in the victory against Aston Villa and kept a clean sheet.

And, while he is aware that Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney will stretch his abilities to the limit, Taylor wants to go down in Northern Ireland history for all the right reasons.

Ireland have not had much to shout about in recent years but the players, including Saints defender Chris Baird, have a daily reminder at their Cheshire headquarters that football keeps throwing up shock results.

Manager Lawrie Sanchez got the winner for Wimbledon against Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final.

Then there is his assistant, Gerry Armstrong, a man who continues to dine out on the goal that brought down Spain in the 1982 World Cup finals.

Taylor said: "If we can nick a draw, we will be legends back home. We all know about Gerry Armstrong and the winner he scored against Spain in the 1982 World Cup.

"That's a source of inspiration for everyone. It's still talked about now.

"If we manage to nick something against England, it will be talked about for years and years. That's an incentive for us."

Eleven years ago Taylor was playing at non-league Farnborough, where he was spotted by former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence.

Clemence liked what he saw and took him to Barnet, where he was manager.

It was not long though before Taylor make the breakthrough into the big league with Graeme Souness signing him for Saints in 1997.

He then moved on to Fulham, helping the club win promotion, before joining Birmingham after a spell on loan.