No place for Beckham as Parker wins England recall

Scott Parker during a Premiership match in 2003. Parker's tenacious displays for Newcastle this season have won him a recall to the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia.

Scott Parker's tenacious displays for Newcastle this season have won him a recall to the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia.

But there was no call-up for former captain David Beckham, despite England's midfield options being reduced by injuries to Aaron Lennon and Owen Hargreaves.

Parker has been drafted into Steve McClaren's squad as a straight swap for Bayern Munich's Hargreaves, who broke a leg earlier this month.

Parker, who has won two caps, has not been involved with the England set-up since being left out of Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for Euro 2004, the Swede having decided that his all-action style was ill-suited to the international game.

Beckham was axed by McClaren after the World Cup but has refused to give up hope of resuming his international career.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder said Parker fully deserved his recall. "He is doing what I said he would do, have a better season this year than he did last," Roeder said.

"He made a big impression last year with our supporters and the players in the dressing room and, already in a short space of time as the leader of the team, he has created an even bigger and better impression.

"As a manager, if they were all like Scott Parker, it would make the job that much easier."

Wayne Rooney returns to the squad after serving a two-match suspension for being sent off in England's World Cup quarter-final defeat by Portugal. Darren Bent makes way to accomodate him.

Gary Neville is also back in the fold, at the expense of Luke Young, while Michael Dawson drops out to allow his Tottenham team-mate Ledley King to return after his recovery from knee surgery.

England are currently top of their Euro 2008 qualifying group after wins over Andorra and Macedonia earlier this month.

Peter Crouch's goal sealed a hard-fought victory in Macedonia and McClaren will expect a more comfortable match when the two sides meet again at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 7.

England then travel to Croatia for what is expected to be their toughest assignment in group E. The two teams last met during Euro 2004 with Rooney scoring twice in England's 4-2 victory.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Kirkland (Wigan), Ben Foster (Watford)

Defenders: Wes Brown (Man Utd), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), John Terry (Chelsea capt.), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Gary Neville (Man Utd), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ledley King (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Scott Parker (Newcastle), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Phil Neville (Everton), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Kieran Richardson (Man Utd)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Andrew Johnson (Everton), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)