Beckham on brink of recall

Steve McClaren is thinking of giving a recall to former captain David Beckham. Is this the right selection? Send us your comments below.

George Caulkin

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article1837928.ece

Steve McClaren is edging closer to recalling David Beckham for next month’s pivotal European Championship qualifying fixture in Estonia. The England head coach gave much consideration to restoring the former captain to the international stage in March and the mid-field player’s fine form for Real Madrid has tipped the balance in his favour.

The presence of Aaron Lennon – who started against Israel and Andorra, England’s past two competitive matches – in tonight’s B fixture against Albania indicates that McClaren is contemplating other options for Estonia on June 6, as well as the glamorous friendly at home to Brazil five days earlier. McClaren conceded yesterday that experience will be “vital” in Tallinn.

Lennon’s form for Tottenham Hotspur has largely been insipid and he has most to lose should Beckham return to prominence, although a sparkling performance at Turf Moor this evening could yet save McClaren from the embarrassment of having to make a U-turn. He names what is likely to be a 23-man squad for the matches against Brazil and Estonia tomorrow morning.

One of the most significant obstacles to Beckham’s come-back has been the perception that it would represent a short-term measure, but that no longer seems applicable. The 32-year-old will leave the Bernabéu Stadium for Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of this season and there has been an assumption that his move is incompatible with playing for England, but McClaren apparently believes otherwise. So do the punters – Ladbrokes has stopped taking bets on his return. “If the weight of money is to be believed, it’s a done deal,” a spokesman for the bookmaker said last night.

If he is selected and plays well, Beckham, who remains desperate to reach 100 caps – his tally stands at 94 – will continue to be monitored by England scouts, in spite of the lower standards he will encounter in the United States, though the issue is understood to have split opinion among members of McClaren’s backroom staff.

Beckham’s recall would represent a bold move by McClaren, whose first decision after succeeding Sven-Göran Eriksson was to drop him, but England’s circumstances require bravery. They are fourth in group E and after their turgid goalless draw in Tel Aviv and a 3-0 victory against Andorra in Barcelona, during which the head coach and his players were abused by travelling supporters, improvement is vital.

“I’ve never said the door has been closed on anybody,” McClaren said. “There’s been a lot of speculation about him [Beckham], but everybody will find out this weekend. It’s not even an issue now, but it may be after Saturday. David’s form has been monitored.”

Yet there were hints that Beckham’s brand of leadership would be welcome in Estonia. “Experience will be vital,” McClaren said. “Playing for a Premiership club is one thing and so is appearing in the Champions League or cup finals, but England is still a huge step up. We have to have players with the experience to handle that.”

It was McClaren’s first media appearance since his brusque 1min 10sec interview after the match against Andorra. “It’s up to us to win back the fans,” he said. “We can’t just expect them to back us. We have to prove a few things to people, but there is a great determination to do that and I’m not daunted by the task.

“It has made me more determined than ever to get it right and deliver for the fans. Sometimes you have to go through adversity.” Beckham would doubtless empathise.