David Beckham was today left out of the England squad and deprived of the chance to win his 100th England cap against Switzerland next week.
New coach Fabio Capello informed the 32-year-old of the decision in a phone call last night, citing a lack of match fitness as his chief reason.
The England midfielder was said to be disappointed but accepted Capello's argument that other players performing regularly in the Premier League had stronger claims for a place in his 30-man preliminary squad.
Beckham will attend a charity function at the Dorchester hotel tonight before flying back to the United States to begin pre-season training with LA Galaxy on Monday.
In a lengthy conversation, Capello said that the international door has not been slammed shut on Beckham for good and that, should he be playing regularly in the future and be fully match fit, then he would still be considered.
Beckham, who had been training five days a week for the last month with Arsenal in a bid to prove his fitness, stills hold out hope of winning the 100th cap in March when England meet France in Paris or in May when they play at least two more friendly matches.
The former Manchester United star halted his training regime to fly first to Africa and then Brazil over the past week, as Capello considered his first squad, but it is understood that neither trip affected the Italian's decision. Beckham first went to Africa for a two-day UNICEF tour and then travelled on to Brazil to promote his soccer school there.
It is not the first time that Capello has decided to omit Beckham from his team. The hard-line Italian made a similar call when the pair were together at Real Madrid.
Beckham's decision to return immediately to the United States has avoided a potentially embarrassing situation next week. England currently train at Arsenal's London Colney headquarters and Beckham would have been on an adjoining pitch to Capello and his squad.
Today's decision underlines Capello's reputation as a football pragmatist rather than a romantic.
It would have been easy to have handed Beckham what he wanted in what would have been an emotional night at Wembley next Wednesday.
But Beckham has not played a competitive match since coming on as a half-time substitute in England's 3-2 defeat against Croatia in November. His last club game was for LA Galaxy against Chicago Fire on 21 October.
Beckham's absence, though, provides a big opportunity for others, namely Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips or Blackburn's David Bentley.
Ashley Cole is also expected to make the preliminary squad, which will be narrowed down to 22 on Saturday, but is doubtful to start after failing to make the bench for Chelsea last night.
Alan Hutton is expected to make his Barclays Premier League debut against Manchester United at the weekend after Tottenham confirmed his arrival from Rangers.
The 23-year-old Scotland right-back is the third signing at White Hart Lane in the January transfer window, with Jonathan Woodgate and Chris Gunter already bolstering Juande Ramos' defence.
A statement from Spurs confirmed: "We are delighted to announce we have reached agreement with Glasgow Rangers for the transfer of Alan Hutton."
According to Rangers boss Walter Smith, Spurs made "an offer we couldn't turn down".
They initially made a move at the start of the transfer window but Hutton turned down the chance to move south, before agreeing to a deal when Spurs went back in for him.
Damien Comolli, Tottenham's sporting director, watched Hutton before he impressed in Scotland's defeat to Italy last November. Manchester United were also linked with him during his progress at Ibrox.
The fee for Hutton is undisclosed but has been reported to eventually come close to the £9million Sunderland agreed for Craig Gordon, which made the goalkeeper the most expensive Scottish player in history.
Pascal Chimbonda's agent last week admitted the defender was frustrated by Spurs targeting two players, Hutton and Gunter, in his position.
Hutton gives Ramos more options in defence as Chimbonda has been relied upon at right-back, even moving inside to centre-back when Ledley King and Michael Dawson have been injured or Younes Kaboul has been dropped.
Brazil left-back Gilberto is also set to arrive, from Hertha Berlin, before the end of the transfer window.
Young-Pyo Lee is the current left-back and Jamie O'Hara has deputised there as well while Gareth Bale has been out with a foot injury.
The full extent of Bale's injury will not be known until he is out of plaster next month, when an assessment will be made by Spurs medical staff.
Ramos has allowed Hossam Ghaly to go on loan with Derby, while Wayne Routledge is expected to depart, with Aston Villa reported to be interested in the former England Under-21 winger.
Middlesbrough centre half Jonathan Woodgate was completing his transfer to Tottenham today, Sportsmail has learned.Reports indicated that Arsenal had swooped for the 28-year-old England defender, making Boro an offer £1million in excess of their north London rival's £6m bid.Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, however, has moved to rubbish those reports, saying: "I do not know where that story came from. There is no truth in it at all."We have never been in touch with Middlesbrough about Jonathan Woodgate." The former Leeds, Newcastle and Real Madrid star - who will be available for next month's Carling Cup Final against Chelsea at Wembley - underwent a medical at White Hart Lane and shook hands with Spurs officials at the weekend before returning to Teesside. Sportsmail understands he was today travelling back to London by train to seal the deal with Tottenham sporting director Damien Comolli.Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said: "We've agreed a fee with Tottenham and as far as I'm aware he went down at the weekend to have a medical and we're just waiting to see."Newcastle had also had a bid accepted by their north-east neighbours but Woodgate was never keen on a second spell at St James' Park.
Kieren Fallon's career as a top-flight jockey seemed doomed last night after the French authorities banned him for 18 months. The troubled rider, who will not be able to ride competitively until August 2009, will appeal against the worldwide suspension for being caught riding while under the influence of drugs for a second time, but his future as stable jockey to Aidan O'Brien and the powerful Coolmore Stud looks over.
Last night Coolmore spokesman Richard Henry insisted that no changes were planned but bookmakers were already betting on the new O'Brien No 1 jockey with Johnny Murtagh cut from 5-2 to 6-4 favourite by William Hill following strong support.
Others linked with the job include Seamus Heffernan, Christophe Soumillon and Jamie Spencer.
Henry said: 'This is a personal matter for Kieren and for us there is no change. We will continue to use the best available on the day.'Fallon, 42, tested positive for cocaine after winning on Myboycharlie in the Prix Morny at Deauville in August. He also tested positive for the drug at Chantilly in June 2006, leading to a six-month ban.
In December, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Fallon had failed a second drugs test a day after he walked free from the Old Bailey after being acquitted of race-fixing charges.In the run-up to that trial, Fallon was banned from riding in Britain after his arrest by the City Of London Police on September 1, 2006.
Despite the pressure of knowing he had to attend the Old Bailey the following morning, Fallon won the 2007 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe on Dylan Thomas in October.That conceivably could be his last professional ride, although he will be still young enough to stage a comeback when his ban is over. America could be an option.
Arsene Wenger's young Gunners were on the receiving end of a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of their arch-rivals, which saw an angry confrontation between the two Arsenal strikers towards the end of the match.
The incident is now being investigated by the Football Association, who have requested relevant television footage after referee Howard Webb confirmed he did not witness the whole event.
Adebayor - who was handed a four-match ban after being sent off just minutes after coming on in last season's Carling Cup final defeat to Chelsea - accepts tempers were allowed to boil over in the heated atmosphere, and offered an unreserved apology for his actions.
"I am sorry for the disagreement with my team-mate Nicklas," Adebayor said on the club's official website. "We are both passionate about this club and sometimes that can be projected in the wrong way.
"It was a mistake. We want to focus on the games ahead and rely on our squad's great togetherness to achieve a fantastic season."
Adebayor - who was handed a four-match ban after being sent off just minutes after coming on in last season's Carling Cup final defeat to Chelsea - accepts tempers were allowed to boil over in the heated atmosphere, and offered an unreserved apology for his actions.
"I think that we should have been more calm during the game and although I was pleased to get a goal back for the team when I came on, I am sorry for the disagreement with my team-mate Nicklas," Adebayor said on the club's official website.
"We are both passionate about this club and sometimes that can be projected in the wrong way.
"It was a mistake. We want to focus on the games ahead and rely on our squad's great togetherness to achieve a fantastic season."
The Adebayor, 23, has been in fine form for the Gunners, with his goal on Tuesday night when coming off the bench a 16th of the campaign.
Adebayor firmly believes the events at White Hart Lane will not unsettle Arsene Wenger's squad, which remains very much in the hunt for honours.
The Togo striker said: "We are a strong unit and what happened last night against Spurs will strengthen our desire and determination to compete for other targets."
Skipper Gallas has called for "upset" Arsenal to unite from their disappointment - and knock revitalised Newcastle out of the FA Cup this weekend.
Wenger reflected afterwards the defeat was all part of the "learning process" and maintained he had "no regrets" about selection policy in a competition which is clearly not the Gunners' main priority.
However, the likes of skipper Gallas, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb, Gilberto and Adebayor, all featured at some stage - but their experience could not, on this occasion, help bring the best out of the likes of Justin Hoyte, Abou Diaby, Bendtner and a particularly disappointing Theo Walcott.
Gallas, though, insists now is the time to look forwards and not reflect on what might have been as the Gunners saw their near nine-year unbeaten run against Spurs come to an abrupt end.
"All the young boys wanted to go to Wembley and I know it is difficult to accept," said the French defender.
"The fans are upset and we are upset. All the club are upset - and we have to accept it.
"Now we have to be strong and forget everything because on Saturday we have another big game which will not be easy."
Steve McClaren claims a lack of depth in top quality players cost him his job.It was England's failure to qualify for this summer's European Championships that ultimately forced the FA to act, but McClaren believes this was due to a lack of cover for his injured first-choice players. And the former Middlesbrough manager believes the dearth of English talent has now reached unacceptable levels. Speaking in the United States, McClaren said: "10-15 years ago we could have a pool of 35, 40 players all roughly the same standard. And that has slowly dwindled down to a number which isn't acceptable."We look at our Premier League and the feeding grounds where English players come from and we find it's inundated with foreign players. I think the last count was 38% of English players play in the Premier League and a very small percentage are playing for the top four and in the Champions League. "The Champions League is where you have to play to get the experience for international football, but we've got too few players playing in Europe, playing in the Champions League. "When we lose those players we struggle for experience." McClaren has certainly changed his tune from the day he was appointed. In the summer of 2006 he claimed that his aim during his four-year contract was to "win a major trophy". And McClaren claims the lack of emerging talent was the reason behind his decision to recall David Beckham after excluding the former captain from his first squad.He said of Beckham's recall: "No one really took the mantle and emerged on that right hand side from the young kids coming though. I know he was very, very disappointed, but he's professional and knows things like that happen in football. And what does he do? He gets on with it and proves people wrong." McClaren is also confident that Beckham, currently training with the Arsenal first team squad, will earn a much deserved 100th cap under new boss Fabio Capello. He said: "I believe he will get his 100th cap. And then it's up to him and the performances he puts in whether he gets any more."
