KEVIN PHILLIPS is remaining coy about an England recall - although the in-form Saints ace admits: "I'm probably playing some of the best football of my life."

A combination of Phillips' irresistible form and the lack of goals among Sven-Goran Eriksson's current crop of English strikers is leading to a growing feeling that Phillips should be on the plane to Portugal for Euro 2004.

On Saturday, he gave another complete striker's performance to score his ninth and tenth goals in 12 games as Saints beat Manchester City 3-1.

He and James Beattie are both among England's most prolific available strikers in the Premiership this season, but have been excluded from recent international squads.

Phillips, who won the last of his eight England caps in 2002, is refusing to talk about a possible return to the international fold, preferring to focus on his own game.

"I feel I'm probably playing some of my best football of my whole career and the goals are coming," he said.

"I'm confident, I'm looking forward to each game and I just feel if I get half a chance, even if I'm not going to score, I'm going to hit the target. Fortunately two of them hit the back of the net.

"I've said over the last few weeks that I'm going on to the pitch full of confidence, as if I'm going to score in every game.

"It's a massive bonus to feel like that and I'm pleased for myself, but more importantly the team."

Phillips only scored twice before January and after a difficult season with relegated Sunderland in 2002/3, he admits it is a big relief to be finding the back of the net with regularity again.

"It was a difficult season-and-a-half at Sunderland, and since I've come here Southampton have given me the chance to get to where I was two-and-a-half years ago and I'm extremely happy," he said. "I'm feeling good, at Christmas I felt I would be pleased if I could just get to double figures.

"I feel I have a 20-goal season still in me in the future and I still feel I've got four or five seasons left in me."