Open Sesame

You can’t help but have confidence in Steve McClaren’s evolutionary brave new England world. A world where, apparently “The door’s always open” – which must be a great comfort to Sol Campbell and David James and an absolute godsend to ex-captain David Beckham, because in his case reports suggest that the manager has even gone so far as to ask senior players if he should be selected.

How democratic of McClaren to ask permission of the likes of Frank Lampard before he contemplates picking a man who less than a year ago was an England icon. And how thoughtful to hold a briefing with the media to explain how things are going, because there’s nothing like a charm offensive – even if, ironically, it’s launched by a man with absolutely no charm.

Truth to tell, if the door really is always open, it’s high time Brian Barwick opened it for McClaren.