Beckham's England honour

David Beckham could be England's next captain

Kevin Keegan insists he has no worries over David Beckham's temperament as he installed him as vice-captain in his latest squad in the absence of injured Sol Campbell.

The England coach, who described senior squad debutant Joe Cole as a "rare talent", repeated his assertion that the Manchester United midfielder was a prospective future England skipper.

After naming his 27-man squad to face Germany and Finland next month at the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign, Keegan said: "David will be my vice-captain in the absence of Sol Campbell.

"I know what it means to him to play for England and I know what it will mean to be vice-captain.

"Yes, I definitely see him as a future England captain. I don't worry about his temperament and I wouldn't make him vice-captain if I did. He's a leader and that's what important."

Of teenager Cole's first senior call-up, Keegan added: "Joe is a rare talent. He can turn a game that's tight, he can change the course of a game.

"He is stronger than last year and now he's playing regularly for West Ham. I watched him at Sunderland recently and of course he had a tremendous game for Howard Wilkinson and the England Under-21s against Georgia.

Keegan insists Cole is ready

"I believe he's ready, willing and able to perform at the very top level. I really believe he's got a tremendous future at this level.

"I discussed it with Howard Wilkinson and I told him I was picking Joe. I'm sure that if you're good enough, you're old enough. He is good enough."

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also received a surprise call-up, with Keegan describing him as "a gem of a player - you ask him to do a job and he does it".

The coach said: "He's come through the ranks. Nobody has played more often for the under-21s.

"He is as versatile as they come and very consistent, as anyone at Liverpool will tell you. There is no question that he deserves his chance."

I believe he's ready, willing and able to perform at the very top level. I really believe he's got a tremendous future at this level

  Kevin Keegan on Joe Cole

Liverpool's Emile Heskey is a big injury concern with a knee injury that has sparked surgery fears, and Keegan added: "Gerard Houllier is happy for me to have Emile in the squad.

"There is a problem with his knee but he might be fit by the time our England games come round. We will monitor his situation closely."

Liverpool team-mate Steve Gerrard has also been cursed with injury niggles over recent weeks and Keegan said: "We'll be assessing Steve's fitness too, but it looks optimistic.

"Liverpool have two games over the next four days so we will see how they go. Steve did ever so well against the Germans in Charleroi so I'm really hoping he can be injury-free this time."

Kevin Keegan is backing Beckham

Graeme Le Saux's international return comes after a 15-month absence due to injury and Keegan said: "He has only had a few games since his comeback but he's very much part of the England set-up."

Steve McManaman may be short of match practice with Real Madrid but he has still kept his place in the latest England squad.

"Macca is fitter, in much better spirits, and raring to join up with us," said Keegan.

"He played half an hour in Europe last week. I've told him he probably won't start the Germany game, but I know that wont put him off. He wants to be involved with England."

In a statement released by the Football Association, the England coach, who was absent from his usual press conference after the death of his mother, concluded: "To me and the players these games mean what they mean to the nation.

"There's nothing bigger in football than the World Cup and we desperately want to be there in the finals in Japan and South Korea.

"The aim is to get off to a fantastic start, which means six points out of six.

"Don't forget - and we wont - that in this case the Finland game is just as important as the match at Wembley against Germany."