Top managers give Beckham backing
Premier League bosses have backed David Beckham's quest for his 100th cap after he was omitted from Fabio Capello's first England squad on Thursday.
Arsene Wenger, Martin O'Neill and Harry Redknapp all hope the 32-year-old can still reach the century milestone.
And Wigan boss Steve Bruce, Beckham's former Manchester United team-mate, said: "Most would say he deserves it."
But ex-England captain Terry Butcher warned: "I think it's now unlikely Beckham will ever get to 100 caps."
Capello explained that he had dropped Beckham because of doubts over his match fitness, having not played a competitive fixture since England's Euro 2008 qualifying defeat by Croatia on 21 November.
But the Italian insisted the door was still open if the midfielder, whom he managed at Real Madrid, shows the required form once he starts playing again with his club side Los Angeles Galaxy.
Aston Villa boss O'Neill told SSB: "It would be great for him to get 100 caps, he deserves to.
"I'm sure the chance will come around again. I take on board Mr Capello's view that he has not played for a considerable time and I know that the idea of just earning caps for the sake of it is not in Capello's nature.
"Having said that, if there is anybody in the last decade who deserves 100 caps for England then it is David."
Portsmouth boss Redknapp added: "I thought this friendly (against Switzerland on 6 February) would have been a great chance for David to get his 100th cap. He deserves it.
"He's been a terrific player. There is a problem because he's playing away (in America) now but I don't think it would have done any harm to play him.
"It would have been nice to give it to him in a friendly and if the manager then didn't fancy him we could have moved on from there."
Bruce, meanwhile, was an established player at Old Trafford when Beckham was breaking into the Manchester United first team.
He added: "I've known the lad since he was boy and I'm sure David won't give up the ghost and will still be determined to get that 100th cap.
"I'm sure many people will feel the way he's led the country and been a good ambassador and what he's brought to English football means he deserves it.
"I do sincerely hope he gets the opportunity to get 100 caps."
Beckham has been working hard to stay fit by training with Arsenal before heading back to the USA to begin the new season with LA Galaxy, starting at the end of March.
Gunners boss Wenger, who invited him to work with his first team squad, said: "I hope he does get it because he deserves it and he works extremely hard."
But Butcher, who has joined new Scotland manager George Burley's backroom team, is not convinced Beckham will ever get to the magic 100 mark.
He said: "Capello is putting down a very strong marker by saying 'I'm not concerned about people getting 100 caps, I'm more worried about getting my squad right from the word go.'
"If David had joined the squad he may have actually felt a little embarrassed that he was only there for sentimental reasons.
"He hasn't played since October and he's not match fit. He's going to go away and play in a league which is out of sight, out of mind and it's very difficult to see whether he will ever get his 100th cap now."
