England Squad

Beckham recalled to England squad

England squad announcement on BBC Sport website & BBC Radio 5 Live at 1200
GMT on Friday David Beckham has been recalled to England's squad for the
friendly in Austria and the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia. If
Russia win in Israel on 17 November, even an England win against Croatia at
Wembley four days later would not be enough to qualify for the tournament.
But Beckham has proved his fitness with LA Galaxy and McClaren has handed
him an instant comeback. Captain John Terry is not included as he recovers
from knee surgery. Chelsea's Ashley Cole is back after missing the defeat in
Russia with an ankle injury sustained in the 3-0 win against Estonia at
Wembley. Terry pulled out of the Moscow defeat after his injury flared up in
England's final training session and has since had an operation. McClaren
travelled to Los Angeles to meet Beckham and discuss his current condition
with the fitness team at his LA Galaxy club in readiness for bringing him
back.
Chelsea's Wayne Bridge is also back in contention after regaining fitness, a
boost for McClaren, who used Everton's Joleon Lescott as an emergency
left-back in the Moscow defeat. Rio Ferdinand is suspended for the Croatia
game and has not been considered, but Micah Richards is included despite
suffering a knee injury. Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf played
against Beckham in a pro-celebrity charity match in Los Angeles last weekend
and believes he can still make a contribution for England. He told BBC Radio
5 Live: "He seems to be sharp and seems to have the intelligence for the
game. My only concern would be physically, with the speed of European
football compared to what he is now used to day by day. "It might be a
little bit different, but I am sure he can do his bit."
Arsenal striker Theo Walcott had been touted for a recall to the squad, but
he has instead been included in coach Stuart Pearce's under-21 squad.
England play Austria in the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna next Friday 16
November, then face Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday 21 November.

England squad:

Goalkeepers : Robinson, Carson, James

Defenders : P Neville, Campbell, Richards, Brown, Lescott, Shorey, Bridge, A
Cole

Midfield : Beckham, Wright-Phillips, Bentley, Gerrard, Lampard, Hargreaves,
Barry, J Cole, Downing, Young

Strikers : Smith, Crouch, Defoe, Rooney, Owen.