DAVID BECKHAM marked his return to the England squad with a man-of-the-match performance in Real Madrid’s 3-1 home victory over Deportivo la Coruña last night.

The midfielder had a hand in two goals as his side retained their position at the top of La Liga. After 29 minutes his left-footed cross was met by Ruud van Nistelrooy whose header was saved but knocked in by Sergio Ramos. In the second half Beckham’s cross was headed in by Raul to give Madrid a decisive lead. Beckham was believed to have left the Bernabeu quickly last night in order to fly by private jet to London.

Madrid’s title rivals Barcelona, who are level on points but trail by virtue of the clubs’ head-to-head record, won 1-0 at home to Getafe, but their Brazilian forward Ronaldinho was sent off and will be suspended for the final two games of the season.

Van Nistelrooy reported afterwards that Beckham had been overjoyed at his recall by Steve McClaren, the England coach. “He’s delighted, so happy with the news,” said the Dutch striker.

“We’d been talking about it every day leading up to the squad announcement, saying ‘Hey, Becks, two more days’ then ‘One more day’.

“David has been through everything in the game and he was still so happy to be called up for his country. Only the greats have an attitude like that.”

Earlier McClaren admitted that he had not attended any of Beckham’s recent games before selecting him for the squad for the friendly against Brazil at Wembley on Friday and the Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia in 10 days’ time. “I had planned to go to see him but circumstances prevailed against it. I know what he can do. I’ve watched every game he has played, on tape and on television.”

He denied that there was any measure of panic in his squad selection.

England must win in Tallinn after defeat by Croatia and draws against Israel and Macedonia left them fourth in Group E. “It is certainly not a panic measure,” said McClaren. “I always like to plan long term, but there is a pressing short-term need to win in Estonia, and David can help us to do that.” The coach also said that he stood by his initial decision to dump Beckham. “I wouldn’t go back on that decision,” he said. “But as I told you at the time, you should never close the door on anybody.”

For his part, Beckham suggested that his game might improve after his move to Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer. “The US season is shorter– we only play 30 games a year – so we get more time off. I’ll be a lot fitter,” he said in an interview with Radio 5 Live. McClaren’s gamble, pages 14-15

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