Dmac

Beckham recalled to England squad


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Former captain David Beckham has been named in the England squad for the first time since the 2006 World Cup.

Coach Steve McClaren's U-turn means Beckham, 32, is set to start Friday's friendly against Brazil followed by the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia.

Fit-again Newcastle striker Michael Owen returns in place of Wayne Rooney, who is suspended for the Estonia game.

Reading's Nicky Shorey, David Bentley of Blackburn and Chelsea's Joe Cole are also included in the 26-man squad.

And Manchester United forward Alan Smith also figures after scoring the opening goal in the England B win over Albania.

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is selected despite picking up a knock in that 3-1 victory at Burnley's Turf Moor.

But the Spurs midfielder could find his opportunities limited with Beckham back in the fold.

Head coach Steve McClaren told BBC Sport: "Everyone knows David's attributes and he's a big-game player who can help us win in Estonia.

"We've a very important game in Estonia, we need to win it and it is a squad that can win it."

Real Madrid midfielder Beckham last played for England in the World Cup quarter-final defeat against Portugal last June, after which he resigned the captaincy, and has not been selected in any of McClaren's nine previous squads.

McClaren also played down reports that senior members of his squad did not want Beckham recalled.

But he refused to be drawn on whether the former captain's move to Major League Soccer in the summer would hinder his international prospects in the long term.

"Everybody's professional and we've a squad that will blend together that will get us a result and I'm sure everyone will welcome David back," he added.

"But all I'm thinking about is the next two games and we're not looking beyond that. The priority is the next 10 days.

"Obviously his form has been excellent at Real Madrid and he can help us win in Estonia. Beyond that we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Beckham is set to move to LA Galaxy at the end of the Spanish season and is confident he can become a fixture in England's plans again.

"I'll be a lot fitter (playing in LA), still as fit as I am now, maybe more fit," the midfielder told BBC Radio Five Live ahead of the squad announcement.

"The training will be difficult in America with the humidity so I still feel I'd be able to play for England."

Hear the full David Beckham interview on Five Live's 606 show on Saturday 26 May at 1800 BST.

Full England squad to face Brazil and Estonia:

Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), Carson (Liverpool), Green (West Ham).

Defenders: P Neville (Everton), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), Dawson (Tottenham), King (Tottenham), Shorey (Reading).

Midfielders: Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Bentley (Blackburn), Carrick (Man Utd), Lampard (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Dyer (Newcastle).

Forwards: Crouch (Liverpool), Owen (Newcastle), Smith (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham).

Credit - BBC Sport

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Tyler Durden

MacLaren and Real Madrid could hardly have handled Beckham in a worse manner since the last World Cup.

MacLaren, pathetically, wanted to make some sort of "gesture" which he thought would make him popular by axing Beckham and basically saying he didn't think he was among our best 23 or 24 players. Which he did, then watched his team fail repetedly and now wants to make another gesture to try to get back public opinion by bringing him back for a game away to Estonia!! (leaving aside the friendly match).

Real Madrid are just as bad, they wanted him out, now he's been a big part of their turn around to the season and possible title win they realise that letting him go on a FT may have been a bit "dumb"!

Now we're all in this ridiculous state when he's effectively coming back for a one off match against Estonia....what message does this send to the current players that they need him back to beat a team like Estonia!!

And at the end of this match he goes off to the US to play a much lower level of club football where his season will end at the end of October and he then won't play any football until May 2008 when their season re-starts. So he surely won't be available to England at 2008 anway since he'll only have played low level footie and then subsequently no football at all for nearly 7 months leading up to that tournament.

Personally, I think it was stupid to drop him out of the squad in the first place, however, once it was done and once he had made the decision to go to the MLS, it's ridiculous to bring him back for one competitive fixture against Estonia!! If Gerrard, Lampard and Hargreaves are fit, is one getting dropped for him. Just for one game. Or are we going to try and play all four of them together again, which we tried for years to do and which failed.

This whole thing has been idiotic.

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