Albion goalkeeper Dave Beasant has hit back at critics of fellow veteran David Seaman.

He believes the 39-year-old Arsenal custodian should still be between the posts for England when their European Championship qualifying campaign resumes in Liechtenstein on March 29.

Seaman has been under fire since the summer when Ronaldinho's swirling free-kick from long range for Brazil condemned England to a 2-1 exit from the World Cup quarter-finals.

In October he conceded a goal direct from a corner in the Euro qualifier against Macedonia at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium.

The likes of the currently injured Chris Kirkland at Liverpool and Paul Robinson of Leeds have been touted to take over, but Beasant reckons it would be wrong to ditch Seaman now.

"People have asked me questions about Dave being the right person. I still think he is," said the 43-year-old.

"If a Paul Robinson or Chris Kirkland had made a mistake they probably wouldn't have got the same criticism as David Seaman, but they might not have been able to handle it and it might have pushed them back a year or so.

"When you are England's No.1 goalkeeper you are built so high, put on a pedestal and then people want to knock you down.

"The good thing is he has got the experience and the character to not let it affect him and come through it.

"At the present time those other goalkeepers haven't played a full season in the Premier Division yet.

"I still feel you have to have three seasons under your belt in the Premier Division before you can say you are a top goalkeeper and ready for the international stage."

Beasant has backed Sven-Goran Eriksson's decision to rest Seaman for the friendly against Australia at Upton Park next Wednesday.

"That gives the younger keepers a chance to get some international experience," he said.

"But then, where it really counts in the qualifiers, you do need someone that has got that experience."

Eriksson names his squad for the Australia match tonight and Albion ace Bobby Zamora is hoping to be included David Platt's under-21 party for the friendly in Italy on Tuesday.

The Seagulls' on-loan Arsenal striker Graham Barrett joins up with the Republic of Ireland under-21 party this weekend for Tuesday's friendly against Scotland at Kilmarnock.

More Seagulls stuff at thisisthealbion.co.uk