For a player who spends most of his time playing against college kids and European has-beens, David Beckham certainly seems to have an unexpected influence over the England squad. Fabio Capello, in particular, sees something in him that I certainly can’t. Maybe Beckham needs to be viewed in special 3D glasses that I just can’t afford.

In a few weeks, when the MLS season winds down (see, they don’t even play it when it’s meant to be played!), Beckham will jet straight to Milan and join up with AC, to keep himself fit and in contention for an England place. Capello has said he will not pick anybody who is not playing regular football at the top level.

Cynics might argue that David Beckham hasn’t actually played football since he left Real Madrid, and we’re lucky if the bloke remembers that the game can actually end with the scores all square. You can’t scoff much at Beckham’s commitment, though. But you have to wonder what he’s doing it for. Capello has shown himself to be the coach many in the FA thought he would be, and with that walnut-like exterior suggests a man who will do exactly as he says. Except where Beckham is concerned. Capello would pick David Beckham if the baggage men at LAX accidentally sent his legs to Canberra instead of London.

This is borne out by those cameo appearances Becks seems to make at the end of every England game. The score safe, generally speaking Theo Walcott will make way for Ol’ Goldenballs, who will strain to reach the first ball played to him and play out time wandering up and down a small strip of the right wing. It’s been obvious for a while that Beckham has suffered from two years of semi-competitive action, and coupled with niggling injuries and his advancing years, should not be anywhere near competitive internationals, regardless of which team he plays for. So for Fabio Capello to break his own code and include a passenger in the squad instead of a more effective younger player beggars logic and belief.

So when the news broke that AC Milan had negotiated a deal to bring Beckham and his wife to Italy for the US close-season, eyebrows have found themselves closer to the hairline. On the face of it, it works out well for both parties. Beckham gets to keep intensely fit for the Spring qualifiers and Milan get another worldwide superstar to parade.

Yet does anybody believe this is anything other than a PR exercise? What possible benefit does this loan serve other than to save Capello’s face (no easy task, granted) and show that he’s following his strict, self-imposed guidelines about his players playing football that matters. Beckham gets to train at the top-level, sure, but Milan aren’t buying him for his football skills. Milan have had legends in the past like Maldini, Baresi, Costacurta, Van Basten, Ronaldo. All of which were played eventually out of sentiment rather than what they offered to the team. What Milan should be striving for is a team of young winners, not one carrying another old pretender.

Beckham, no doubt, has convinced himself that he’s still the same player he always was and could have the effect he had as a twenty-one year old. But if he has, he’s a bigger fool than his most ardent supporters. Beckham impresses in flashes now, and regardless of whether he plays in the Disney Leagues or the Serie A, his time for England has passed. Are we doomed to see him trot out for the last ten minutes of an international until he staggers over the line of Peter Shilton’s caps record? Currently on 107, Becks has eighteen to go. In my estimation, that’s an appearance in each qualifier and friendly, and every match England play should they reach World Cup 2010, by which time he will be thirty-five. Any manager thinking they can win a major championship with a thirty-five year old who plays two months of competitive football a year needs to ask themselves serious questions.

Beckham chose Milan over many other offers (I’m sure) because they were the glamour name. After leaving Real Madrid, he could never find himself coming back to Europe to play for someone of less stature. In reality, Beckham would have been better suited to a team like Everton, Aston Villa, Blackburn or Portsmouth. All teams that play attractive, attacking football, that are striving to reach another level of football and would be open to somebody willing to put in the effort. He would never come back to play for a top-four rival, despite the Arsenal links, simply because he still recognises his idolatry amongst United fans.

Beckham will get nothing but token appearances and paparazzi flashbulbs at Milan. It’s perfect for the billion dollar footballer whose missus likes the limelight. Beckham has allegedly decided he’ll return to Milan for his winter break next year. To me that sounds like a holiday rather than a career choice.

The bottom line is this: If Beckham wants to play for England regularly, he should be forced to play for a European club full-time. It’ll take him two months to reach continental fitness after the turkey shoot of the MLS. If he refuses, he should be dropped, despite what he’s done for his country in footballing and profile terms. This isn’t a retirement home – it’s national football success at stake. A token eight week gesture to salve Capello’s conscience simply isn’t enough. My own personal feeling is that Beckham can’t do both anyway, because he’s too old. Sorry to be so blunt, but if Capello really wants to break from the dazzled years of the Steve McClaren reign, then he needs to drop Beckham despite his winter jolly, not keep him because of it.

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