AC Milan-linked Beckham set for England return

AC Milan-linked David Beckham could match Bobby Moores’ England appearance record next week should manager Fabio Capello follow up on a hint to field him now he is playing regularly.

Capello is putting the final touches of the jigsaw to his squad to face Spain in a friendly in Sevilla on February 11 and Beckham’s good form for the San Siro outfit has put him into the frame for possible selection.

Should Beckham play, he would equal 1966 World Cup-winning captain Moore’s outfield player record of 108 caps, before possibly breaking it against Slovakia at Wembley on March 28.

Although he has only played three matches for the Serie A giants since arriving on a short-term loan, the former England skipper has been a revelation.

Each start has brought more praise and now Milan executive director Adriano Galliani is attempting to broker a deal that would allow Beckham to remain at the San Siro, probably until the end of his amazing career.

The developments must be satisfying for Capello, who informed Beckham last autumn that he could not expect to be picked for England unless he was playing regularly, standing by his words by leaving the former Manchester United star out of the squad that overcame Germany in Berlin last November, after the MLS season had come to an end.

It was to overcome that problem Beckham came to Milan in the first place.

And, after watching the 34-year-old in action last week in a league victory over Genoa, Capello praised Beckham’s form, and his decision to explore the option of remaining in Milan, words which seem certain to be followed by a place in the squad for Seville.

“I’m very happy for David (Beckham) and for AC Milan,” said Capello at the LMA President’s Dinner in London this evening.

“He is a media star and for this reason all the fans spoke about him in this way before he arrived; like a star not a player. But now he has played three games, and every game has been better.

“Milan want him to stay, and the fans are very happy for his style of play and the performances for the team.”

Meanwhile Capello is slowly piecing his squad together to face the Euro 2008 winners, who the Italian regards as the world’s number one just now.

He will be at West Ham on Sunday, where Wayne Rooney is expected to return for Manchester United after a recent hamstring injury, although he already knows Steven Gerrard will be missing with a similar problem picked up in Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat at Everton last night.

“I think England will be strong in Spain, I am very confident in my team,” he said. “Spain play fantastic football. They are very quick but I enjoy this kind of challenge.”