No place for Becks in Capello's new look England

David Beckham, seen here in late 2007, has been told he has missed out on Fabio Capello's first England squad but reassured that he could still get the chance to win the 100th cap he craves, according to English media reports.

David Beckham was left out of Fabio Capello's first England squad on Thursday but reassured that he could still win the 100th cap he craves.

Capello named a 30-man provisional squad for next week's friendly against Switzerland but there was no place for the 32-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson, England's number one until November, has also been left out of Capello's first squad, having recently lost his place in Tottenham's first team.

Other conspicuous absentees in a squad featuring 12 defenders but only five forwards include veteran defender Sol Campbell, Everton utility man Phil Neville and Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, whose absence may be linked to uncertainty over his club future.

With Defoe dropped, Capello found room in the squad for Aston Villa's pacy young forward Gabriel Agbonlahor and, in perhaps the biggest surprise, has also called up his team-mate Curtis Davies, a ball-playing centreback.

With Ashley Young, Gareth Barry and Scott Carson also in the squad, Villa are as well represented as Manchester United, although that may change when it is whittled down to 23 names on Saturday night.

Curtis Davies of Aston Villa celebrates after scoring during a Premier league football match against Wigan Athletic in late 2007. Davies has been included in Fabio Capello's first England squad.

Capello, who famously dropped and then recalled Beckham when he was in charge of Real, said the LA Galaxy star had only been left out because he was not currently playing competitive football.

"I know there has been a lot of discussion about David Beckham," he said.

"The reason that David is not in the squad is because he has not had any real match practice since playing in November.

"When I spoke with David on the phone yesterday I advised him that he is still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America we will look closely at him again."

Beckham has been training with Arsenal during Major League Soccer's close season but has not played a competitive match since winning his 99th cap in the November defeat by Croatia, which ensured England did not qualify for Euro 2008.

In contrast, his main rivals for a slot on the right of England's midfield, Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips and Blackburn's David Bentley, have been playing regularly and are in fine form for their clubs.

England coach Fabio Capello is seen here in 2007. David Beckham has been told he has missed out on Capello's first England squad but reassured that he could still get the chance to win the 100th cap he craves, according to English media reports.

Capello also indicated that he saw Aaron Lennon as a candidate for that role, although the Tottenham winger has been left with the under-21s on this occasion.

"There are some players like Joe Hart, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott and David Wheater who are with the under-21s this time because they have a very important qualification game against Ireland on Tuesday," Capello said.

"In the future these are players that could feature in the senior squad."

Beckham said earlier this week he felt ready to become only the fifth player to win 100 caps for England.

"To get picked to play for my country is always special and because it's my 100th game it makes it extra special. It would mean the world," he said.

Beckham's international career appeared to be over once before, when he was was dropped by the incoming Steve McClaren following the 2006 World Cup.

The former captain of the national side declined to retire then and that decision was vindicated when McClaren recalled him at the end of last season as England's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign faltered.

Beckham came on as a substitute against Croatia and said afterwards that he believed he could play on until at least the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Squad

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

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (Aston Villa), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Man City), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)

Midfield: Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn)

Forwards: Emile Heskey (Wigan), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)