Beck in business

Beckham: Joining the 100 club?

David Beckham has been included in Fabio Capello’s England squad to play France in a friendly international Paris on March 26th.

Becks now looks certain to bag a 100th England cap after proving his fitness to Capello’s right hand man Franco Baldini after impressing for LA Galaxy at the weekend.

‘I always said that when David was fit he could be in the squad, said Capello who had omitted Beckham from his first England squad.

‘I have had good reports on him from Franco, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club. I know a lot about David Beckham and what he can offer the team.’

It was good news also for Theo Walcott who was also named in the provisional 30 man squad, he has not featured for England since Sven Goran Eriksson selected him for the World Cup finals in 2006.

Another new face is Middlesbrough defender David Wheater who has impressed at the Riverside this season, Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe and Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor also make the provisional squad.

A few regulars will miss out this time around including Manchester United’s Michael Carrick and Ben Foster, Spurs’ Aaron Lennon has also been omitted and fails also to make the Under-21 squad.

Fab has kept his faith in the veteran David James of Portsmouth and has named Chris Kirkland (Wigan) and Scott Carson (Aston Villa) in his goalkeeping trio, there is no place for former England No1, Paul Robinson.

Michael Owen also gets a nod despite Newcastle’s abysmal league form.

It’s widely believed that John Terry will win back the Captain’s armband after Steven Gerrard skippered against Switzerland.

Goalkeepers: James (Portsmouth), Carson (Aston Villa), Kirkland (Wigan)

Defenders: Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Lescott (Everton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Wheater (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Tottenham), Upson (West Ham)

Midfielders: Barry (Aston Villa), Young (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Jenas (Tottenham)

Forwards: Walcott (Arsenal), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Owen (Newcastle), Defoe (Portsmouth).

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