Monday, August 14 2006 19:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: David Beckham is among a series of senior players left out of Steve McClaren's first England squad, announced on Friday, as the incoming national manager promises 'a new era' for the team.

While McClaren insists it is possible Beckham can return, he indicates this is extremely unlikely, saying he has told his former captain that the team is going in a new direction 'and he was not involved with that'.

"I spoke with David last Monday and notified him of my decision," says McClaren, who also uses the press conference to present his assistant manager Terry Venables.

"I told him I was looking to the future and said I was looking to change things, go in a different direction and he was not included." "I have great respect for David," McClaren adds.

"He was a fantastic captain for England, a great player, and still is a great player." "He took the news very well, although he was disappointed." "I got the reaction I wanted, and the reaction was he would continue to fight for his place, and I will never close the door on that."

McClaren sticks with his decision to ring in the changes from his predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson. Along with Beckham, the other casualties of McClaren's purge of the England old guard are former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell and veteran goalkeeper David James.

Among the beneficiaries is West Ham's highly rated forward Dean Ashton, who wins his first call up for next Wednesday's friendly at Old Trafford against Greece.

Fellow strikers Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent, both controversially left out of the World Cup squad by Eriksson, also return.

On the goalkeeping side, youngsters Chris Kirkland and Ben Foster, on loan at Wigan and Watford respectively, are preferred to James as backup to Paul Robinson.

"It's been a long summer, it's the start of a new season, a new era," a confident-sounding McClaren tells sources in central London, sitting alongside his new captain, Chelsea defender John Terry, and new assistant Venables, the hugely respected coach who led England to the semi-finals of Euro 96.

McClaren insists he wants 'evolution, not revolution' in his first squad, and is aiming firmly at success in the Euro 2008 tournament.

Although the squad contains just 14 of the 23 players taken to the World Cup, McClaren is not totally brutal.

Apart from the deliberate omissions, squad certainties Michael Owen, Michael Carrick and Joe Cole are all injured while Wayne Rooney is suspended after his World Cup quarter final sending off.

Teenage striker Theo Walcott, taken to the World Cup by Eriksson despite having not played a single Premiership game for Arsenal, is already not in contention, having been named in the Under 21 squad earlier this week.

While McClaren insists he will 'never close the door' on a return for Beckham to add to his 94 caps, he strongly indicates that the 31-year-old had been dispensed with for good.

The Real Madrid midfielder, who captained England 59 times over six years before stepping down after the World Cup, insists there are no hard feelings.

"Having spoken to Steve McClaren this week I can fully understand that a new manager should want to make his mark on the team and build towards the next World Cup," Beckham says to sources.

"I'm proud to have played for England for 10 years and my passion for representing my country remains as strong as ever."

Beckham has stated his ambition to become the fifth England player to amass 100 caps and play at Euro 2008.

And it will be a particular blow being axed by McClaren, with whom Beckham worked closely at Manchester United and when McClaren was Eriksson's number two.

The former Middlesbrough boss is not the fans' choice to take the England job, in part because of his close links with the failed Eriksson regime.

But in a combative performance, McClaren insists he will bring success to the country's long-suffering supporters.

"I've tried, and I will try, and succeed in getting the right blend and balance within the squad and within the team," he says.

"I believe that we've got a great squad of players in England, and I believe that we will start getting success on the field from now."

Among the cull of older players there is a perhaps surprise recall for versatile defender-cum-midfielder Phil Neville, now with Everton, whose older brother Gary also remains.

In midfield, wingers Stewart Downing of Middlesbrough and Tottenham's exciting Aaron Lennon both keep their World Cup places, while Chelsea's Shaun Wright Phillips and Kieran Richardson of Manchester United come back into the squad.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Chris Kirkland (Wigan), Ben Foster (Watford) Defenders: Gary Neville (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Phil Neville (Everton), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), John Terry (Chelsea, CAPTAIN), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Luke Young (Charlton), Michael Dawson (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich/GER), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Kieron Richardson (Manchester United), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Darren Bent (Charlton), Dean Ashton (West Ham)