David Beckham was left out of Fabio Capello's first England squad on Thursday but reassured that he could still win the 100th cap he craves.

Capello named a 30-man provisional squad for next week's friendly against Switzerland but there was no place for the 32-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder.

Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has also been left out of Capello's first squad, as have veteran defender Sol Campbell, Everton utility man Phil Neville and Spurs striker Jermain Defoe.

With Defoe dropped, Capello found room in the squad for Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor and, in perhaps the biggest surprise, has also called up Villa defender Curtis Davies.

Capello, who famously dropped and then recalled Beckham when he was in charge of Real, said the LA Galaxy star had only been left out because he was not playing regularly at the moment, as it is the close season for Major League Soccer.

"I know there has been a lot of discussion about David Beckham," he said. "The reason that David is not in the squad is because he has not had any real match practice since playing in November.

"When I spoke with David on the phone yesterday I advised him that he is still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America we will look closely at him again."

Beckham has been training with Arsenal but has not played a competitive match since winning his 99th cap in the November defeat by Croatia, which ensured England did not qualify for UEFA EURO 2008.

In contrast, his main rivals for the slot on the right of England's midfield, Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips and Blackburn's David Bentley, have been playing regularly and are in fine form for their clubs.

Beckham said earlier this week he believed he had done all he could to prove to Capello that he was worthy of becoming only the fifth player to win 100 caps for England.

"To get picked to play for my country is always special and because it's my 100th game it makes it extra special. It would mean the world," he said. "Hopefully it happens but we have to wait and see. If it doesn't it doesn't. That's part of life and part of football.

"But I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully I've worked hard enough this last month and a half to get myself fit and to make myself available. I haven't spoken to Fabio Capello. Obviously he's been very busy watching a lot of games and travelling around the country watching a lot of different players. I'm not planning on speaking to him until hopefully I meet up with the squad."

Beckham's international career appeared to be over once before, when he was was dropped by the incoming Steve McClaren following the 2006 World Cup. The former captain of the national side declined to retire then and that decision was vindicated when McClaren recalled him at the end of last season as England's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign faltered.

Beckham came on as a substitute against Croatia and said afterwards that he believed he could play on until at least the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Squad

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Curtis Davies (Aston Villa), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Ledley King (Tottenham), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Man City), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)

Midfield: Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn)

Forwards: Emile Heskey (Wigan), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)