Beckham handed England recall

David Beckham has been recalled to the England squad for the final Euro 2008 qualifying match against Croatia.

But England skipper John Terry will miss the game - and the friendly against Austria five days earlier - through injury.

National boss Steve McClaren had hoped the 26-year-old talismanic defender would have recovered from the knee injury he sustained in training, but he has been forced to admit defeat.

McClaren now faces a defensive crisis with his other first choice central defender Rio Ferdinand suspended for the game at Wembley on November 21.

There was better news for the England boss when Chelsea's Ashley Cole and Manchester City's Micah Richards were declared fit to be selected after ankle and knee injuries respectively.

But there was no place for Jonathan Woodgate of Middlesbrough as Everton's Joleon Lescott kept his place.

Beckham, 32, has recovered from an ankle injury and could win his 98th international cap in the friendly in Austria next Friday evening as McClaren finalises his preparations for the clash with the Croatians.

The former Boro manager travelled to the United States last weekend to talk to the LA Galaxy mid-fielder and has been able to include him in his squad for the first time since the 2-1 friendly defeat by Germany at Wembley in August.

England squad for the friendly against Austria on Friday, November 16 and the Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday, November 21: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Portsmouth), Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Aston Villa); Richards (Man City), P Neville (Everton), Brown (Man Utd), Campbell (Portsmouth), Lescott (Everton), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea), Shorey (Reading); Beckham (LA Galaxy), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Bentley (Blackburn), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Young (Aston Villa); Owen (Newcastle), Rooney (Man Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Smith (Newcastle), Defoe (Tottenham).