Beckham, 25, has been promoted to vice-captain because Sol Campbell is out following surgery on a dislocated shoulder.

But Keegan insisted that he had no worries about Manchester United midfielder Beckham's temperament and admitted that it was done with the long-term future in mind.

'David will be vice-captain in the absence of Sol,' he said.'I see him as a future England captain. I don't worry about his temperament. He's a leader and that's what's important.' Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Beckam would be an Ideal captain for England.

Although Beckham has never skippered United, Ferguson claims he always leads by example on the pitch.

'If you look around the England squad at the minute you've got Alan Shearer retired, Tony Adams is coming to the end of his career and Sol Campbell is injured, so David comes into the frame quite easily' he said.

'There are all different ways of captaining a team. Some do it by example and I think that's what David does.

'His determination and his appetite to play are an example to all the players around him. I've seen these qualities myself and I think that's what Kevinsees in him too.'

Keegan has warned 33-year-old Arsenal skipper Adams that he cannot expect to be selected unless he can prove himself 100 per cent fit.

'Tony will have six days without a game in the build-up to Germany but he knows I don't play people who aren't fit.'