David Beckham wandered over to his familiar peg in the Old Trafford home dressing room before the match against Liechtenstein only to find someone else's strip hanging on the hook.

It was a defining moment for the England captain, a signal that his life had moved on and that Manchester United is now very much just a series of memories.

That said, Beckham used his return to the city where he made his name as an opportunity to say some of the goodbyes that he missed by his speedy departure to Real Madrid - and not least to the United fans, many of whom were in the stadium to give him an astonishing ovation when he left the field of play with half an hour of the match remaining.

Beckham said: ''With 65,000 fans there it was always going to be special. Walking out onto the pitch was great and coming off was even better. The reception I got coming off made it quite an emotional moment - it was much more than I expected.

''It was a bit weird coming back, there were certain changes around the club - there was a different peg for me in the dressing room - but most things were just the same.

''I spent so many years here and have so many friends here and it was nice to see them all - I went back to see my old landlady which I hadn't had a chance to do before.''

England now need just a point from their one remaining match to be sure of topping Group Seven and qualifying automatically for next year's Euro 2004 finals in Portugal.

However, the decisive game is against Turkey in Istanbul on October 11 and Beckham believes it is important that the England players do not get drawn into the hype that is already surrounding the match.

He said: ''We have got time to sit back and relax and know that we are top of the group and have to go over there knowing we can either win or draw.

''But we are not even thinking about that game at the moment - we will let everyone else do the talking about that game.''

Beckham did show a flash of anger in response to suggestions that he has an influence on team selection. The reports followed his comment before the Liechtenstein match that it was ''my decision'' whether he played or not with another caution meaning he would be suspended for the deciding game in Turkey.

He said: ''It's the manager's decision, he picks the team I don't pick it, I have nothing to do with the team and I never will.''

Beckham will now turn his attention to club football once again with Real Madrid facing Valladolid at the Bernabeu tomorrow and their first Champions League clash against Marseille, also at home, on Tuesday.

He added: ''Things are going well in Spain. I'm starting to learn the language and the players have accepted me straight away so that's half the job done.''

Michael Owen is confident England can produce another ''big game performance'' when they need it most against Turkey.

The Liverpool striker believes Sven-Goran Eriksson's side can again produce their best when it really matters as was the case against Italy in 1997 and Germany two years ago in make-or-break World Cup qualifiers.

Now it is a similar nail-biting scenario with England requiring only a share of the spoils against the Turks - who have never scored against them - to make sure of top spot.

But Owen and his teammates are adamant that playing for a draw is not on the agenda and that England must adopt a positive approach on October 11.

Owen, who scored his 24th goal for England in the 2-0 win over Liechtenstein, said: ''England have tended to respond in big qualifying games in recent years like the Italy and Germany games.

''We have got a lot of big game players in our team who perform when it is needed most. There are a lot of teams that can play well against minor sides but we tend to do just enough.

''But when we play against good sides we have done really well. You focus your mind a lot more. Certainly we play better against better opposition and let's hope that continues in Turkey.

'Everyone is looking forward to it. There are only a few games in your life where the stakes are at their highest and this is one.

''You get people saying 'England need to sharpen our scoring or defending' but when it comes to the big crunch games I am sure everyone will be ready and on their toes.

''I think our best form of defence over there is to try and score goals. It is not easy playing for a draw, especially away from home. Teams will put pressure on you and I think we will try to score. I don't think we'll sit back.''

Owen's Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard, free to play in Istanbul after avoiding a booking against Liechtenstein on Wednesday, said: ''We will definitely be going to Turkey looking for a win.

''I think it is a dangerous game to play to be going to places like Turkey looking for a draw.''