Beckham backs Neville return

David Beckham has welcomed the return to fitness of his Manchester United team-mate and friend Gary Neville - but insisted that he deserves to be in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England plans on merit.

There have been suggestions that Neville is poised to make an instant return to the England side against Slovakia because of his close relationship with Beckham.

Danny Mills held down the full-back berth during the World Cup finals and the Leeds player did not let Eriksson down with a series of solid displays, in addition to keeping his temperament in check.

Nevertheless, it seems likely that 27-year-old Neville will resume his partnership down the right flank with his Old Trafford team-mate - and bring a vocal presence that was noticeably lacking on the pitch from the majority of England players in Japan.

Beckham said: "Gary is very vocal and a few of the lads that don't spend every day with him are finding that out this week in training!

"It's good to have him back because he's a good player. He is a very good organiser and good talker but, like I said, he is a footballer and deserves to be in the team. We had a great team spirit in the summer and Gary would have just added to that."

Neville missed the World Cup because of a broken foot.