Entire squad back to full training

Steve McClaren is confident that England captain David Beckham is "well on course" to play in Sunday's World Cup opener with Sweden after he came through a second training session in 24 hours with no adverse reaction.

Beckham went through another full work-out in the sweltering heat of Awaji at their training camp this morning - seven weeks to the day since he broke a bone in his left foot which threatened his hopes of playing in the finals. With midfielder Kieron Dyer also working flat-out, all 23 members of the England squad were able to complete an entire session together for the first time since joining up in Dubai two-and-a-half weeks ago to launch their preparations for Japan and Korea.

With coach Sven Goran Eriksson taking a break from addressing the media, McClaren said: "David has trained for the last two days with the team and come through very well. There has been no reaction so he is on course for Sunday still.

"He is doing everything. He is not holding back. He has got a big smile on his face and he is enjoying life.

"Of course you think about his match fitness but he has been working very hard and, by his own admission, over the last two or three weeks, he has felt like he has done another pre-season in terms of the work.

"He is a naturally fit boy anyway and we have got another three or four days' training before the game and he will be okay. "You would like to think that he can play the entire 90 minutes although that can't be judged at this precise time."

McClaren is also optimistic about Dyer who has to prove to Eriksson that he is fit to participate in the World Cup in the next 48 hours after suffering his knee injury on the last day of the domestic season.

He said: "He has also trained with the team for the last two sessions and has made some great progress over the last few days. As long as there is no reaction, he will do the same on Thursday.

"It is the first time today that we have had 23 players on the training field able to all do a full session.

"It's a big time for Kieron but if you see him around the hotel and in training then he is just the same as David Beckham in having big smiles. He has got two days to prove that he can play some part in the World Cup."

McClaren admitted: "The intensity and focus in the squad has really been apparent this week - but with David and Kieron it has added that little extra bit of spice and focus from the players. The opening game is getting ever so close now and I think once we see the first game on Friday between France and Senegal then we will think 'we're here' and 'let's get started'."