LONDON (AP):

NEARLY A year after being dropped from the national team, David Beckham looks set to return to the England squad as coach Steve McClaren scrambles to boost his side's chances of qualifying for the 2008 European Championship.

Beckham could be named today in McClaren's squad to play Brazil in a friendly at Wembley next Friday, and a Euro qualifier in Estonia five days later.

The 32-year-old Beckham has not played for England since the team lost to Portugal in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Germany on July 1, 2006.

He tearfully stepped down as England captain the day after the defeat.

"There has been a lot of speculation about him but everyone will find out on Saturday morning if he's in the squad - you can all look forward to that," McClaren said. "I go around, keep my eye on everybody and David's form has been monitored. The door has never been closed." British newspapers speculated that McClaren was only giving Beckham one last opportunity to play for England again - and at the new Wembley stadium - before he moves to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer in August. McClaren took over as England coach in August and, breaking with the policy of former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, made a point of dropping Beckham.