A student has created a life size Subbuteo-style model of England hero David Beckham.

Matthew Chaloner, 22, fashioned the fibreglass pose of the England midfielder as part of his degree show.

But instead of brandishing the World Cup, doting father Becks is holding aloft his son Brooklyn.

The model forms part of Mr Chaloner's exhibition marking the end of his modelmaking and design honours degree course at the University of Sunderland.

Mr Chaloner has put the finishing touches to the model

Liverpool fan Mr Chaloner said he could have chosen to recreate star striker Michael Owen, rather than Manchester United's Beckham.

He said: "Michael Owen is a bit shorter so he would have been easier to do.

"I always knew I would stick Beckham in an England shirt and when it comes to the World Cup you don't care who they play for.

"If he scores on Friday it will be brilliant."

The student who graduates this summer chose Beckham as an icon of the modern game who links football with a solid family life.

Mr Chaloner said he was also inspired by the turn around in the England captain's popularity since the last World Cup in France when Beckham was sent off in shame.

Changing hairstyle

He said: "Football used to have a very bad press and four years ago Beckham was seen as a villain.

"Now football is seen as a family game, and Beckham as a hero.

"I thought I'd combine the two - Brooklyn is Beckham's most precious trophy."

The student decided to avoid the potential problem of keeping up with the players ever-changing hairstyles.

"I had a word with my tutor and we decided to give him a skinhead - like on the front of his autobiography," he said.

Beckham will be on show from 22-29 June as part of the University of Sunderland's 2002 Arts, Design and Media Degree Show exhibition.