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Premiership Football News: Mass Becks' Appeal

Mass Becks appeal?

The key to David Beckham lining up for England in his fourth successive World Cup isn't his dubious man-of-the-match award in Wednesday's qualifier with Belarus, but instead his revelation after a creditable half-hour cameo that come the New Year he'll be back playing in Serie A.

Beckham's injection of energy with England just 1-0 up against Belarus - they ran out comfortable 3-0 winners - certainly left some pundits starry eyed, notably former Manchester United team-mate Steve Bruce who overlooked two-goal Peter Crouch to nominate the bearded 34-year-old the best player on the pitch.

But while his undoubted vision and slick positioning steadied England and helped steer them towards a ninth qualifying victory, it wasn't until post-match that Beckham's inclusion in Fabio Capello's squad for South Africa started to gather momentum.

The former England captain told reporters that his deal to rejoin Milan on loan was "95% done". "I don't see why it isn't going to happen. I always wanted to go back," he said.

Beckham's comments were swiftly confirmed by Milan vice president Adriano Galliani. "David Beckham's return on loan in January is already a done deal," Galliani was reported as telling Sky Sport Italia.

The question for some is why wouldn't Milan, who have made an uncertain start to the new Serie A season, be willing to welcome Beckham back into the fold. He made 18 appearances between January and May earlier this year and proved popular with the club's players and supporters.

Next year's loan deal means Beckham, who has also been a feature in central midfield for LA Galaxy this MLS season, a year in which the side has made the playoffs for the first time since 2005, will play at the elite level in the run-up to the World Cup in June.

You'd have to think that it was the ideal scenario for Capello and anyone associated with the England team.
But confirmation of the Milan deal hasn't been enough to quell Beckham's detractors; indeed, receiving the man-of-the-match honour against Belarus against most people's better judgement has only seemed to fan the flames of the anti-Beckham brigade.

While the crowd reaction at Wembley on Wednesday night tells you that Beckham's standing with the England public is as high as at any point in his 115-cap national team career, the press are refusing to succumb to the clamour to include him on the plane to Africa.

Very few respected journalists have been calling for his inclusion in the World Cup party despite his club form this calendar year.

Oliver Kay in The Times perhaps best summed up the mood from the press box. "His cameo against Belarus gave the small number of Beckham-sceptics something to think about, but to gush over his performance, in what by that stage had become an exhibition match, would be to ignore the reality that the adulation he enjoys is not backed up by anything he has done in recent years, whether at club or international level."

The added problem for Beckham is that the midfield boasts Capello's greatest strength in depth, especially the right flank.

Aaron Lennon started there against Belarus, with another right winger in Shaun Wright-Phillips playing left side because of the absence of Steven Gerrard. When you consider Theo Walcott is still to return to the England side after injury, Beckham's problems grow while Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves can also fulfil that role for the side.

Most think he is likely to have to rely on his dressing room presence and an intelligent impact role from the bench to grab a World Cup spot, but, notably, few are categorically ruling Beckham out of the running just yet.

Marc Fox

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