David Beckham was given a new lease of life last night as a central midfield player for Real Madrid.

The former England captain has lost his place on the right wing and, unhappy at not being a first-team regular, is less than a month from being able to negotiate a free transfer. But with Real 1-0 down at half-time against lowly Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabéu, Beckham was brought on in the centre of midfield and helped to orchestrate a spirited comeback that led to a 2-1 victory.

Beckham, who has started just one league match at home, was on the bench for the eleventh time this season, having admitted that “10 or 12” games would start to make him think about not staying in Spain. But after his second-half display he was optimistic about his chances of regaining the centre ground he occupied when he arrived at Real.

“I am happy to have got a full half in and for us to have won the game,” Beckham said. “I was really up for it because it was an important match. We passed the ball around much better in the second half and played with a lot of pace.

“Every player now knows that he is important for the team and because of that we are showing real team spirit. We are in second place and we are playing well.”

Beckham looks set to keep his place in the side. He should start in Wednesday’s final Champions League group game, against Dynamo Kiev, and with Mahamadou Diarra suspended, he could be in line to play in next weekend’s league game against third-placed Seville. “Me, Guti and Emerson can all play in that position and I have a chance of starting against Seville. We will see,” Beckham said.

Luis Prieto stunned the home side by scoring after 35 minutes, but having replaced the pedestrian Emerson, Beckham almost unlocked the Bilbao defence immediately. His slide-rule pass put Robinho clear, but the flag was already up as Ruud van Nistelrooy converted the cross.

Ten minutes later, Ronaldo, who had come on with Beckham at half-time, levelled the scores and after Aritz Aduriz was sent off for an elbow on Diarra, Roberto Carlos hit a late winner.

Beckham who picked up a late booking, was praised by Fabio Capello, the Real manager, who said: “He has played in that position many times. For him it is nothing new. He can play there without any problems.”

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