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<SPAN class=art-title2>Hargreaves keen to shine in Beckham's absence</SPAN>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">14 Aug 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Owen Hargreaves said Monday that life in the England squad was different without David Beckham around -- then insisted he would love to step into the limelight.
The Bayern Munich midfielder was surprised that former skipper Beckham was not named in new manager Steve McClaren's first squad after England's FIFA World Cup quarter-final exit on penalties to Portugal.
But the 25-year-old said there was a new feel about the England set-up now Sven-Goran Eriksson was no longer in charge and insisted he was relishing the challenge to make himself an automatic first choice by dazzling in Wednesday's friendly against Greece at Old Trafford here.
"It's a different team and a different time with the new manager and things have changed," Hargreaves said.
"The training session was very different to what we've done in the past and every manager has his own philosophy on how he'd like to train. Steve McClaren now being the manager dictates what he'd like to do."
He admitted it was strange not to have Beckham's huge presence about the place.
"Ever since I've been involved since 2001, he's been here, he's been the captain and he's been the focal point of the team. Any time a player of that calibre is not involved any more I think it's something that everyone will realise and recognise," Hargreaves said.
"I was a bit surprised (that he was dropped) but it's not my responsibility to pick the team. I had a great time with Becks."
Only 14 of the 23 players Eriksson took to the finals remain in McClaren's squad -- though the likes of Michael Owen, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick are injured, while striker Wayne Rooney is suspended following his red card against Portugal.
Strikers Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent are back in the running, as is West Ham striker Dean Ashton, who only 18 months ago was playing in The Championship, English football's second tier, for lowly Crewe Alexandra.
"Every player in the squad now has the opportunity to present themselves to the new manager," Hargreaves said.
"I've been patient in the past and it took some time. I realised I would get my opportunity. With the new manager coming in, every player would like to impress. I have to wait for my first opportunity and take it from there."
Ashton said he had his sights set on being swept in with McClaren's new broom -- but admitted he was stunned to have received a call-up before the English Premiership season has even started.
"When I thought about Steve McClaren coming in, I thought it was a fresh start; hopefully if I started the season well I thought that I might get a call but to get called in so soon it's a magnificent surprise," the 22-year-old admitted.
He left Crewe in January 2005 for Premiership strugglers Norwich City and found himself relegated back to The Championship that May.
West Ham brought him back to the top flight for 7.25 million pounds (13.7 million dollars, 10.8 million euros) last January and he ended the season scoring in their FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool.
He said the influx of foreign players into English football in the Premiership era had made it hard for home-grown talents to work their way up the leagues.
"There's definitely enough players in the Championship who are good enough for the Premiership but there are so many good foreign players who come over and do well that it is getting more and more difficult.
"It is down to us individuals to strive harder.
"I've got belief in my own ability. I believe I am good enough to play at this level and I am very grateful to the manager for giving me the opportunity to hopefully show that.
"I think I'm a different type of striker to most who are in the squad. I'd like to think
<SPAN class=art-title2>Hargreaves keen to shine in Beckham's absence</SPAN>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">14 Aug 2006</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Owen Hargreaves said Monday that life in the England squad was different without David Beckham around -- then insisted he would love to step into the limelight.
The Bayern Munich midfielder was surprised that former skipper Beckham was not named in new manager Steve McClaren's first squad after England's FIFA World Cup quarter-final exit on penalties to Portugal.
But the 25-year-old said there was a new feel about the England set-up now Sven-Goran Eriksson was no longer in charge and insisted he was relishing the challenge to make himself an automatic first choice by dazzling in Wednesday's friendly against Greece at Old Trafford here.
"It's a different team and a different time with the new manager and things have changed," Hargreaves said.
"The training session was very different to what we've done in the past and every manager has his own philosophy on how he'd like to train. Steve McClaren now being the manager dictates what he'd like to do."
He admitted it was strange not to have Beckham's huge presence about the place.
"Ever since I've been involved since 2001, he's been here, he's been the captain and he's been the focal point of the team. Any time a player of that calibre is not involved any more I think it's something that everyone will realise and recognise," Hargreaves said.
"I was a bit surprised (that he was dropped) but it's not my responsibility to pick the team. I had a great time with Becks."
Only 14 of the 23 players Eriksson took to the finals remain in McClaren's squad -- though the likes of Michael Owen, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick are injured, while striker Wayne Rooney is suspended following his red card against Portugal.
Strikers Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent are back in the running, as is West Ham striker Dean Ashton, who only 18 months ago was playing in The Championship, English football's second tier, for lowly Crewe Alexandra.
"Every player in the squad now has the opportunity to present themselves to the new manager," Hargreaves said.
"I've been patient in the past and it took some time. I realised I would get my opportunity. With the new manager coming in, every player would like to impress. I have to wait for my first opportunity and take it from there."
Ashton said he had his sights set on being swept in with McClaren's new broom -- but admitted he was stunned to have received a call-up before the English Premiership season has even started.
"When I thought about Steve McClaren coming in, I thought it was a fresh start; hopefully if I started the season well I thought that I might get a call but to get called in so soon it's a magnificent surprise," the 22-year-old admitted.
He left Crewe in January 2005 for Premiership strugglers Norwich City and found himself relegated back to The Championship that May.
West Ham brought him back to the top flight for 7.25 million pounds (13.7 million dollars, 10.8 million euros) last January and he ended the season scoring in their FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool.
He said the influx of foreign players into English football in the Premiership era had made it hard for home-grown talents to work their way up the leagues.
"There's definitely enough players in the Championship who are good enough for the Premiership but there are so many good foreign players who come over and do well that it is getting more and more difficult.
"It is down to us individuals to strive harder.
"I've got belief in my own ability. I believe I am good enough to play at this level and I am very grateful to the manager for giving me the opportunity to hopefully show that.
"I think I'm a different type of striker to most who are in the squad. I'd like to think
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