T HERE are always people who question sport's relevance at times like these, and generally I dismiss them as tedious twerps.

With a rail disaster on top of the foot-and-mouth epidemic, why do we need to concern ourselves with the deeds of someone as shallow as David Beckham?

Well, we need something to smile about, don't we?

It was good to see Sven-Goran Eriksson trying to sing the national anthem, which was more than most of his players attempted.

As captain, however temporarily, Beckham felt obliged to give the anthem a go and made a rather better fist of it than either his 45 minutes on the pitch or his post-match interview.

Asked to cast some light on Sven's techniques, he said: "We've only been wiv 'im for two or free days."

The suave Swede later proved himself capable of speaking rather better English than most of his charges, and national disasters were clearly far from his mind as he celebrated the three goals.

Although it was not as bad as Wembley, there were the usual morons in the crowd who ignored the pointed request to respect the Spanish anthem and booed the return of Ugo Ehiogu to Villa Park.

Ugo had the last laugh, of course, although he wouldn't expect as much space playing for Boro Reserves as he was granted for his goal by players whose thoughts had long since turned to this weekend's Real Madrid v Barcelona clash.

But let's not take anything away from Sven's dream start.

It helped to take the nation's mind off more grisly matters and filled us full of hope.

HAVING said that, I take my hat off to racehorse trainer Ferdy Murphy, who had the good sense to realise the folly of transporting horses around the country before the racing authorities.

Others bleated that they thought racing should have been suspended earlier but had to put their owners' wishes first. Frankly, I wasn't aware that racehorse owners were such a selfish breed.

With sheep and cattle farms surrounding his Wensleydale premises, Murphy wasn't prepared to take the slightest risk of bringing the infection back to the area.

Quite right, too. This is certainly one instance where sport has to take a back seat, even if it means cancelling the Cheltenham Festival in two weeks.

The Irish, it seems, have already decided they won't be coming. Their philosophy of "you can't take it with you so you might as well drink it" helps to make Cheltenham a marvellous occasion, and while the pubs and hotels will miss their money perhaps the saddest part is that Istabraq will be denied his crack at a record fourth successive Champion Hurdle victory.

WITH no other Newcastle player in England's 31-man squad, it was a shame that Kieron Dyer had to pull out with sore shins.

It's a simple sounding ailment which seems to baffle the experts as sufferers are continually sent for scans which reveal nothing, take a couple of weeks' rest then return to action only for the trouble to flare up again.

It happened with Dyer, just as it did with Durham paceman Steve Harmison last summer.

Without consulting Durham, the England selectors still picked him for the A tour to the West Indies and it was no surprise at all that he had to pull out.

Lengthy rest seems to be the only cure, and Newcastle fans should not count on seeing Dyer again this season.

I T seems there are one or two others Newcastle will see rather less of, with Clarence Acuna required for Chilean international duty and Nolberto Solano keen to play for Peru again.

They might come cheaper than English players - and Newcastle are not in the best of financial health - but it again raises the question why such a footballing hotbed can't raise its own talent.

While the likes of Wallsend Boys' Club product Michael Carrick are allowed to escape via West Ham into the England squad, the Magpies are left with an international mish-mash which even Bobby Robson struggles to motivate.

They should take a look at what Rob Andrew is achieving up the road at Kingston Park.

OK, David Walder and Michael Stephenson are the only local lads among the young backs who lit up Twickenham last weekend.

But the others have been brought through the academy and have developed a strong bond with each other as well as the area.

Jonny Wilkinson apparently felt more pressure from wanting to do well for his mates than he does when kicking for England, and his off-day with the boot almost cost them victory.

But they came through for a wonderful triumph and Andrew is convinced the production line he has set in place will yield many more successes.

He has also pledged to take the Tetley's Bitter Cup all over the region in his unflagging efforts to impress upon people that there's more to life than football