McClaren welcomes Beckham problem

Steve McClaren yesterday hinted for the first time that he might bring David Beckham back into the international fold after the former England captain produced another impressive performance, against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

McClaren spoke in Barcelona ahead of last night's game against Liverpool and, for the first time since he dropped Beckham in August, he said that the 31-year-old's performances had given him a "problem" over selection. The decision to drop Beckham came to define McClaren's reign when he said he was planning a "different direction" for the England team without him, although it seems that recent performances have forced McClaren to be more open-minded about the player.

His line since dropping the player was that the door was not shut to anyone although it was understood that, in the case of Beckham, it was indeed firmly closed. When Beckham's deal to join the Los Angeles Galaxy was agreed in January, it seemed inconceivable that it would be an issue any longer but his recent redemption under his coach Fabio Capello - and his part in two goals for Real Madrid - seems to have made McClaren, at the very least, re-consider.

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McClaren was not, as reported, present at the Bernabeu for Real's 3-2 win over Bayern Munich; instead he was in Barcelona looking at Espanyol's stadium, where the Euro 2008 qualifier against Andorra on 28 March will take place. McClaren, when asked whether Beckham could return for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel on 24 March, said: "I've always said that. We have four weeks before the squad is announced and we will see what happens in those four weeks."

On Beckham's recent form he added: "It gives me a problem, one of the problems you welcome.

"He's being professional and performing well for his club - obviously that's a problem I would rather have than not have. The reaction from every adversity he's ever gone through in his career, he's always bounced back and been professional and got on with his job. It's pleasing to see that a month ago he would never play for Real Madrid again and there he is starring in a game against Bayern Munich and being man of the match."

Raul opened the scoring after only 10 minutes on Tuesday when Ruud van Nistelrooy picked up a pass from Beckham before threading a superb ball through to Raul, who bundled his way past Oliver Kahn to score.

Soon after, Beckham swung in a corner and Ivan Helguera rose above everyone else to send a looping header back across goal which Raul got the slightest of touches on to nod home.

Beckham was again involved as Real made it 3-1 in the 34th minute. He drilled in a free-kick which found its way through to his former Manchester United team-mate, Van Nistelrooy, who turned the ball in.

Beckham's man-of-the-match performance capped a stirring recent turnaround in the 31-year-old's fortunes after his career in Spain seemed over. Capello seemed set on not picking his departing midfielder after he signed up to join the Los Angeles Galaxy. But the Italian has been forced to relent in the face of mounting pressure from supporters, and McClaren has clearly not ruled out recalling the man whose international career he appeared to have ended as one of the first acts on taking over from Sven Goran Eriksson.