McClaren wants Hargreaves back for Euro 2008 bid

Steve McClaren cannot wait for midfielder Owen Hargreaves to return to an England squad that the coach believes could become European champions in 2008. England have faced a barrage of criticism since last week's 1-0 friendly defeat by Spain at Old Trafford, a game Hargreaves missed due to a long term injury.

Though the drab match followed a poor run in Euro 2008 qualifying, Steve McClaren (picture) believes England can reach the finals in Switzerland and Austria as title contenders, with the help of Bayern Munich player Owen Hargreaves.

"The majority of the good teams have someone in the middle of the park who gels it all together, a Roy Keane or a Claude Makelele who does the unseen work and allows other players to express themselves," McClaren told reporters.

"Makelele allows Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack to go forward and score goals (for Chelsea), Keane gave that to Paul Scholes (at Manchester United).

"Owen has demonstrated in his time with England he does the unseen work, with 1,000 tackles, 1,000 interceptions."

Hargreaves played in McClaren's first three games as coach after replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson following the 2006 World Cup in Germany where the Canadian-born holding midfielder was England's best player.

All three matches were won, against Greece, Andorra and Macedonia, without conceding a goal.

England have lost to Croatia and Spain and drawn in the Netherlands and with Macedonia at home, scoring only once, in the four games since Hargreaves broke his leg on club duty.

"He creates a different kind of tempo," said McClaren.

"We've seen it so few times because he has been injured but in the games he's played, he gave players that freedom.

"We haven't seen that enough and we want to see more of that in the future."

The next chance will be in a Group E qualifier in Israel on March 24, with England looking to rise from third in the table behind Russia and leaders Croatia.

McClaren hopes the players will be stung by the response to the Spain setback and channel that anger into a winning performance in Tel Aviv.

"What we're looking for is a reaction," he said. "We've been criticised individually and collectively, and we have to use that. Adversity... gives you that anger, that determination to prove people wrong.

"These players... are good enough to qualify and go to this tournament as contenders, as one of six or seven teams who can win it. Not expected to but who can win it."

McClaren paid tribute to David Beckham's recent return to the Real Madrid side but gave no indication the former captain might return for his country.

Beckham has not been in the squad since McClaren took charge.