Beckham in for a recall?

McClaren's first act as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor was to symbolically axe Beckham from the England set-up in the wake of his below-par performances at last summer's World Cup finals.

Since then, the embattled former Middlesbrough boss has resisted a public clamour for the Real Madrid midfielder's reinstatement, despite a series of poor results that have led to his own future being called into question.

That clamour has intensified in recent weeks, with Beckham's fine recent form helping his employers climb to the top of La Liga ahead of his imminent departure to join Major League Soccer outfit LA Galaxy in the United States.

Recalling Beckham for what would surely be no more than a one-off return to the international arena would appear little more than a final roll of the dice for McClaren, a manager who knows that his position would become all but untenable should England fail to beat Estonia in Tallinn on June 6.

But while he stopped short of confirming Beckham's return ahead of this evening's England B international with Albania, the Yorkshireman hinted that the 32-year-old's experience could prove crucial in 12 days time.

"Experience is going to be the key," said McClaren, who could also recall Alan Smith to his senior party if the Manchester United striker impresses in this evening's shadow-squad run-out at Turf Moor.

"Playing for your club is one thing - playing in the Champions League and Cup finals - but playing for England is a huge step up and we have to have players (in Estonia) who have the experience to handle the game.

"That's even more true of the position we're in at the minute, because we need to win that game. "There's quite a few players who have that experience, but you'll see who's in and who's out on Saturday morning.

"There's been quite a bit of speculation about David Beckham, but there's also been speculation about other people as well. It's not an issue now, but I suppose it might be after Saturday." Yesterday's pre-match discussion was McClaren's first press engagement since he stormed out of his post-match interview in the wake of March's uninspiring 3-0 victory over Andorra.

The England boss maintained that he did not regret his actions in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium but, as he reflected on an evening that also saw him booed by a sizeable proportion of his side's support, he acknowledged that everybody associated with the England squad faced a fight to win back the public's trust. That fight begins in the unlikely environs of Burnley's Turf Moor this evening and, rather than retreating into his shell, McClaren insists he is relishing the battle to win hearts and minds.

"It's up to us to put things right and we don't have a right to expect anything," he said. "We have to win matches because that's the only way we're going to gain the support of everybody. "After Andorra, we have to prove something to a few people, and there is a great determination to do exactly that.

"I'm not daunted by the task that faces me. There's a barrier to get over, but I never for one minute questioned whether all of this was worth it. I'm more determined to get this right and deliver to the England fans than at any other time in this job."

With Smith and goalkeeper Scott Carson the only players from Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool to be involved, this evening's game is little more than a glorified training exercise for the benefit of the fit-again Michael Owen. For the likes of former Charlton loanee Carson, Reading full-back Nicky Shorey and Blackburn winger David Bentley, however, the chance to wear an England shirt - even at B level - is an opportunity to be seized.

England B (4-4-2): Carson, P Neville, Dawson, King, Shorey; Bentley, Jenas, Barry, Lennon; Smith, Owen.