Beckham anxious to impress Capello

LONDON, England -- David Beckham is desperate to win his 100th cap for England under new coach Fabio Capello, the Los Angeles Galaxy star revealed at a special evening in his honor in London on Sunday night.

Beckham has been training with Premier League leaders Arsenal during the Major League Soccer close season in a bid to prove his fitness to Capello ahead of next month's friendly with Switzerland.

"Even if it wasn't just for the 100th cap, for an England game I'd do the same, said Beckham.

"I want to be fit and be available for Mr Capello's first team and first game."

Beckham revealed his fitness after a five-week break from football had surprised him.

"It's a lot better than I thought it was," he said on Sky Sports News.

"I feel great. I've had one day of training with the Arsenal team and three days of training with the fitness trainer."

Beckham revealed he had thoroughly enjoyed working with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in the past week.

"It's been great. I'm lucky that Arsene Wenger has given me the chance to train with the team," he added.

"It's nice to be with a Premier League team that is obviously so talented. "The players have accepted me really well."

Beckham was guest at honor at a gala dinner hosted by the Football Writers' Association.

Former national team boss Sven-Goran Eriksson led the tributes to him at the event which was also attended by former England coach Steve McClaren and English FA chief executive Brian Barwick. E-mail to a friend