Two former England managers, Bobby Robson and Terry Venables have warned current leader Glenn Hoddle he can't afford not to take Paul Gascoigne to the World Cup.

In an amazing show of support for the former Rangers player, Robson described him as ''priceless'' to the England team, as he was the only ''clever, goalscoring midfielder'' that Hoddle had, while Venables insisted the midfielder was ''worth the trouble'' that came with him.

Both are sure that England's chances of winning the World Cup will be greatly reduced unless Gascoigne, whose ability to make page one headlines has not lessened since he moved back from Scotland to Middlesbrough, is in the team and playing near his peak.

In a perfect world, Gascoigne would be a World Cup certainty but even Hoddle, who has backed him to the hilt in the past, has now expressed caution about the player's preparations for France.

Injury problems with 'Boro and Rangers, followed by recent highly-publicised allegedly drunken trips out on the town with celebrity friends Chris Evans, Rod Stewart, and Danny Baker, would not seem to be the ideal build-up to the World Cup.

Hoddle conceded at the weekend that Gascoigne was not ''100%'' assured of his World Cup place and ''certain things'' still worried him as the midfielder had to prove that he was right, both mentally and physically.

However, Venables insisted: ''We know the setbacks, we know the problems that come with Gazza but it's worth the trouble. He's not scheming. He's just like a lad who wants to be cheeky and mischievous. there's not much more in it than that. And it's the manager's job to keep that under control.

''I suppose I was fortunate but when I said I had had enough of something, it didn't happen again. Yet you can't keep on threatening him as he'll detest you. That's the sort of character he is.''

Venables added: ''We haven't got anyone else like him. He is a match-winner. You have to have a world-class striker, which we have in Alan Shearer, but you also need a midfield player who will score special goals.

''More than that, Gazza is good for the dressing room. The players love to be with him, he is not frightened of the opposition and takes everyone else along with him.''

Robson similarly believes Hoddle has to pick the only player with World Cup experience that England have as he can score and create goals, as well as passing on his confidence to his team-mates.

''I would take him, for sure,'' said England's World Cup '90 manager. ''He is priceless to the England team. ''We have some good midfielders - David Batty, Paul Ince, Paul Scholes, and David Beckham - and they have their own qualities.

''But Gascoigne can see the pass that no-one else can. He can stick the ball through the eye of a needle at the right moment to put it between the defenders for the likes of Shearer to run on to. He also has the dribbling ability outside the edge of the box to win you free-kicks - and possibly even get one or two players sent off - and to go past people, and get in himself to score goals."

Robson believes that whatever question marks there are over Gascoigne's physical condition, he could easily be substituted after 70 minutes of a game, having made his impact.

Hoddle will be speaking to Gascoigne during England training sessions this week in the build-up to Saturday's friendly against Saudi Arabia.

The England coach revealed at the weekend that he believed Gascoigne had ''fallen back a little'' on the progress he had initially made to ''learn and open his mind a little'' after previous indiscretions.

''Certain things worry me and in certain things I still see he has genius in him,'' said Hoddle.

''I've always said 'we're not out of the woods Paul' and I've said to him that he has to go 50-50 with me.''

qSOUTH AFRICA'S World Cup hopefuls were given a confident send-off yesterday by President Nelson Mandela, who said he believed they would thrive at the finals.

''On behalf of the entire country, I say to you God speed,'' Mandela told the players before shaking hands with each member. ''I don't have the slightest doubt you will return with honours.''

South Africa play Zambia in an exhibition match on Wednesday before leaving for Argentina for another match, and then going to Germany to train for the finals.

Coach Philippe Troussier said the meeting with Mandela would inspire the players, and he called Mandela the twelfth player on the field for South Africa.

Captain Lucas Radebe of Leeds United told Mandela the team would do the best it could, ''also for you.''

South Africa face hosts France, Denmark, and Saudi Arabia in Pool C in their first appearance in the tournament after having been banned from international football for 28 years because of apartheid.

qParaguay goalkeeper Jose Chilavert saved 16 shots but didnot produce his party piece in their 1-1 draw with Japan in a warm-up match. Chilavert impressed as a shot stopper, but did not manage to get on the score sheet.

Chilavert said he regretted not being able to show off to Japanese fans why he is famous as the goal-scoring goalkeeper who takes penalties and free kicks.

qWimbledon's Nigerian internationalist Efan Ekoku had admitted that his dream of playing in the World Cup was in tatters.

Ekoku, who underwent an operation on a serious ankle injury in February, said national coach Bora Milutinovic had informed him he would not be in Nigeria's final 22.

''I've been in contact with the coach and I'm on standby. But it doesn't look like I'll be going unless one or two players get injured,'' Ekoku told Wimbledon Clubcall yesterday

The 30-year-old was left out of the 26-man Nigeria squad for a friendly against Yugoslavia in Belgrade on May 30.

qYugoslav coach Slobodan Santrac has announced his provisional 26-man squad for France. He will name the final 22 on June 2.

qCoach Herbert Prohaska stuck by the players who helped Austria qualify for France '98 when he named his provisional 22-man squad yesterday. Prohaska resisted the temptation to include SV Salzburg midfielder Martin Amerhauser, who appeared in the two recent friendly defeats against Hungary and the United States.

He scored in the 3-2 Hungary defeat, but is listed only on the coach's reserve list - as are Adi Huetter, Herfried Sabitzer, and Dieter Ramusch. Sabitzer, a forward with first division club Graz AK, lost his place to twice-capped Mario Haas from city rivals and Austrian league champions Sturm Graz - one of six Sturm Graz players in the squad.

Also on the reserve list is Arsenal's No.2 goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who did well for the English double-winners when David Seaman was injured for two months earlier this year.

Included despite recent injuries are Borussia Dortmund defender Wolfgang Feiersinger, and Werder Bremen midfielder Heimo Pfeifenberger.

''They are fit but they have obviously have to get back into shape again,'' Prohaska said. The squad will meet for a training camp in Lindabrunn tomorrow and will play friendlies against Tunisia on May 27 and Liechtenstein on June 2, before Prohaska names his final squad.