Steve McClaren has revealed that David Beckham is on a mission to prove his critics wrong after the LA Galaxy star was named in the England squad.
Beckham was recalled for the friendly with Austria on Friday and the the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier with Croatia five days later.
McClaren checked on the fitness of the former Manchester United midfielder on a recent visit to the United States.
“If you know Becks well, he likes proving people wrong, and I think he still has a lot to prove,” the England boss said.
“He always has a lot to prove and he has a lot to prove over there. I read a couple of things about him not enjoying the experience over there and I couldn’t have found that further from the truth.
“He loves it, he’s settled and his kids go to great schools and have a great lifestyle. He’s got a quieter lifestyle to before.”
Beckham is currently three caps short of the magical 100 and could end on 99 if England fail to qualify for Euro 2008.
“He was disappointed to be injured in his first season there, but also having come back into the England squad and the impact he made in the summer, he was looking forward to capitalising on that," continued McClaren.
“He’s itching to prove these injuries are behind him and he’s fit. I’ve said to him: ‘You’re in the squad and we’ll see how you are.’ That doesn’t mean he’ll play.”
McClaren does not have any regrets about axing Beckham following the 2006 World Cup.
“I have no regrets about what I did. I wouldn’t say he’s proved me wrong. I know David Beckham well and I knew what his reaction would be, and he showed that in the summer.”
The former Middlesbrough boss has described Beckham as a 'big-game player' but sees Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon and David Bentley as the heir apparents to the England number seven.
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