Woodgate is backing his Bernabeu team-mate Beckham

Woodgate, 26, is on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, where Beckham was a team-mate at the Bernabeu.

He told BBC Radio Cleveland: "Steve has his thoughts about picking his team but I think it's wrong to leave David out.

"If you look at the last World Cup, England scored five goals, of which David scored three and set one up."

Woodgate is convinced that former England skipper Beckham still has plenty to offer the national team.

The central defender added: "In my opinion Steve has made a mistake. David Beckham is an exceptional player, I still think he is."

Woodgate has ambitions of his own to add to his five England caps but realises he has to impress the new England boss.

He said: "I need to show him I can play games and that Steve can trust me when he calls me up that I'm not going to get injured.

"If I need to play more games to get back into the reckoning, then that's the way it is."

Woodgate is in contention for a place in Boro's line-up for the north-east derby against Newcastle on Sunday after missing two weeks with a dead leg.

The England defender admitted he is frustrated at assumptions that any injury is linked to the problems surrounding the torn thigh muscle that limited him to just 13 games in two years for Real.

Woodgate said: "It annoys me when people assume that. I will give them my mobile number and they can ring me so I can tell them exactly what is wrong with me."