THREE days after receiving a golden cap to mark his century of appearances for England, David Beckham was reappointed captain for the friendly against Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain tonight. Beckham takes over from John Terry, captain for last Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over the United States, who was excused the trip to the Caribbean, along with six others who played in the Champions League final.

There were suggestions that Beckham, still tremendously popular in the Caribbean, was given the job to boost England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, but manager Fabio Capello insisted that wasn’t the case. “The appointment is not a political move,” he said. “The political side is for the FA and they have not suggested to me that Beckham should be captain. There was no pressure put on me.

“Beckham was very happy when I told him. I know David very well from our time together at Real Madrid and he did well for me after some problems at the start. I can change my mind about things and only stupid people never change their mind. He was very important for Real at the end.”

Capello said he had Beckham in mind to lead the side for at least one game after he became England coach six months ago. He said: “I know he gave up the England captaincy a couple of years ago but you can never say never. Will he start the World Cup qualifiers? Wait and see, but he played well in the first half against the USA and will be captain tomorrow.”

Capello has already used Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Terry in the role but will not make a permanent appointment until the World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September. Beckham, however, was delighted and spoke like a captain when he said of Capello’s effect on the players: “If you don’t perform, he’ll let you know and you’ll be out. We needed that seriousness and that passion back after not qualifying for the European Championship. That’s still hurting a lot of the players and the country as a whole. We need to prove to the fans that we’re worthy of playing in the World Cup.”

Would-be successors to Beckham on the right of England’s midfield such as Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips have fallen by the wayside and the latest heir apparent, David Bentley, seems to be trying too hard. A quick winger is needed on at least one flank, and the situation cries out for Theo Walcott, Ashley Young or Gabriel Agbonlahor tonight. Beckham was unwilling to agree. He said: “I heard someone say the other day I’ve lost my pace, but I never had any. My game has never been about that, but give me two or three yards and I’ll put the ball in an area where someone can score.

“This midfield works and I’m not sure we’re that short of pace. Stevie Gerrard is quick, so is Owen Hargreaves. We have players who are quick and can break forward and score.” In terms of the speedometer, we agreed to disagree.

Up front, Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe were not effective in midweek and both would fare better with a conventional centre-foward, such as Peter Crouch or Dean Ashton. In the absence of the rested Rooney, Ashton should get his first cap today. Crouch, on for Defoe in the second half last Wednesday, is also looking for an opportunity to catch the manager’s eye and accepts that leaving Liverpool is inevitable to further his international career: “You have to be playing to get noticed, and this season I played nowhere near enough games.

England (probable): David James (Portsmouth, age 37, caps 38); Glen Johnson (Portsmouth, 23, 7), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd, 29, 67), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham, 28, 6), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea, 27, 28); David Beckham (capt, LA Galaxy, 33, 101), Gareth Barry (A Villa, 27, 19); Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, 28, 66), Ashley Young (A Villa, 22, 2); Gabriel Agbonlahor (A Villa, 21, 0), Dean Ashton (West Ham, 24, 0).