WANDERERS boss Gary Waddock has warned returning England hero Matt Phillips that he has got a fight on his hands just to get into the Wycombe team.

He says it will be as hard for the winger to nail down a place in the Blues side as it was for him to break into the England set-up.

Hot-prospect Phillips landed back in England on Wednesday with his star the highest it has ever been, after he scored the goal that fired Noel Blake’s young Lions into the semi-finals of the European U19 championships before their dream was eventually ended by Spain who won the last-four showdown 3-1.

Phillips played six times for England’s emerging players this summer and that has catapulted him to the attention of bigger clubs.

Championship sides Watford and Preston are reportedly planning to make bids for him while the Free Press can also reveal that fallen giants Leeds United and Southampton are also interested in the winger, who could well start the season warming the substitutes bench at Adams Park.

Although he has been starring alongside youngsters from Premiership clubs this summer, Waddock has warned him that he faces a real scrap to get into his npower League Two side this season.

The Aylesbury-born winger will have to claw his way past newly-appointed club captain Gareth Ainsworth or oust fans’ favourite Kevin Betsy if he is to occupy his favoured wide spots on the left or right wing.

Waddock said: “He’s done brilliantly for England and we are all very proud of what he’s achieved but he’s got to get into our team now which is not going to be easy.

“He’s got to do it now for us. It’s going to be hard for a number of players to get into our side because there is real competition. If you are in that side you have got to stay in there because you know there are people that want to take your place.

“There are no guarantees for anybody. They have to earn the right.”

Phillips was unhappy at often being used as a substitute last season and after his international adventures it is hard to see him being happy if he is not starting.

Blues will assess his fitness now he’s returned from his tour of duty firstly in the Ukraine and then in France.

He linked up with England in May and has been playing throughout the summer and hasn’t had a holiday yet.

Waddock said: “We will manage him. We want him back in the group. He’s done fantastically well for England. He’s on a high, he’s done himself, the club and his country proud and we want to use that to our advanatge now.”

Phillips said after scoring the goal that put England into the semi-finals: “I’ve never experienced a buzz like that.”