Beckham freely admits he thought his England career had ground to a halt on 94 caps when Steve McClaren dumped him in a move supposed to herald the start of a bright new era in the wake of the failure in Germany three years ago.

In the end, McClaren was forced to recall the former skipper as he tried to ignite a flagging Euro 2008 qualifying campaign that ultimately ended in total disaster.

Having axed Beckham for Real Madrid at about the same time, only to realise the 33-year-old is a pretty durable character, Capello was not going to make the same mistake when he was named McClaren's successor 15 months ago.

Beckham is now up to 110 caps - two more than Bobby Moore - and 15 behind Peter Shilton's all-time record, with the smart money on him breaking it.

The midfielder's value is obvious. Yet again last night he came to England's rescue, curling over the late free-kick that Steven Gerrard nodded into John Terry's path as they snatched a Group Six win against the Ukraine at Wembley.

"At corners, free-kicks and crosses, Beckham is very important," observed Capello.

"He is still one of the best in the world."

Critics cruelly describe Beckham as little more than a 'special team player', useful only for his set piece delivery.

Even though he would be regarded as second choice to a more speedy starter - Aaron Lennon last night but Theo Walcott and Shaun Wright-Phillips are other possibilities - it is an unfair put down and one Capello will ignore if, as expected, England continue to cruise through qualifying to eventually book their place in the final 32.

Beckham has had three goes at winning a World Cup already. Two losing quarter-finals and a first knock-out round exit to Argentina, when he was infamously sent off for taking a sly kick at Diego Simeone, in 1998, represent the sum of his achievements.

There is still a bit of uncertainty over how he will negotiate the final three matches of England's qualifying campaign, by which time he will have returned to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

But Beckham is almost certain to become the first Englishman to actually play in four World Cups, even if Michael Owen has not given up hope of joining him.

"The future, the future, the future," sighed Capello, when asked about Beckham's long-term position.

"I prefer to talk about now. Please. At the moment, he is good. Whenever he goes onto the pitch, he always plays well."

Part of the reason is Beckham's present stay in Milan, which the former Manchester United star admits gave him back the confidence and belief of which McClaren's brutal axing had robbed him.

"He did not play until January, so he is fresh, which is good," Capello said.

"I have watched him a lot for Milan and in their last game, he was their best player."