Beckham's omission came as a surprise

Owen Hargreaves said he was surprised when new England manager Steve McClaren decided to drop fellow midfielder David Beckham from the squad for today's friendly against Greece.

"It is strange for me because ever since I've been involved since 2001, Becks has been here, he's been the captain and he's obviously been the focal point of the team," Hargreaves told a news conference at a training session.

"I was surprised. I'm not the manager and I don't pick the team but I had a great time playing with Becks."

Hargreaves, 25, could benefit from Beckham's omission after performing well in the World Cup, winning over the England fans with his all-action performance in the quarter-final defeat by Portugal.

The Bayern Munich player was guarded about media reports linking him with a move to Man. United.

"In football, anything is possible," said Hargreaves.

"You have seen that in the past and the transfer deadline is not until August 31. I can't say what will happen between now and then.

"Obviously, with the way the World Cup went for myself, more English teams have seen what I can offer and are more interested."

Greece are in need of a lift after they followed up their shock Euro 2004 success by failing to reach the World Cup.

"It was a big dream for us to go to Germany but we paid for our mistakes," said midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos.

"It is a lesson for us. But that is now finished and we have to focus on qualifying for Euro 2008."

Meanwhile, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard will play on the right side of midfield against Greece, McClaren said yesterday.

The move leaves Frank Lampard as the dominant attacking midfielder, with Hargreaves in a holding role and Stewart Downing wide on the left.

West Ham United striker Dean Ashton, who was hoping to make his international debut, injured an ankle in training and has been taken to hospital for a scan.

McClaren has named Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch as his strikers.

"It is an evolution, we are trying new things and we are just looking at one or two different things and the shape of the team is one thing," McClaren said.

England team: Paul Robinson, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves, Frank Lampard, Stewart Downing, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch.