How do you solve a problem like Beckham? The world’s media was pondering the answer to this question back on that cold Monday in March, and I was too.

I concluded, with the frenzy over the former Manchester United midfielder’s achilles injury still fresh, that he should call an end to his international career with England and move back home to get fit and see himself into retirement with a Premier League swansong.

An awful lot has happened between the middle of March and the end of May. Beckham says he’s trying to be back playing in November – just after England kick off the Euro 2012 qualifiers – and has shown no signs of even contemplating calling it a day. Has he even read my article!?

My suggestion as to his replacement landed with Aston Villa’s James Milner. In my bigging up of the ex-Leeds man, I completely forgot about the flying Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.

When England played a friendly against Mexico at Wembley recently, Milner played in a more central role and failed to impress. Walcott played the first half on the wing and made a number of threatening runs with no end product. In the second half Aaaron Lennon of Tottenham came on and was largely ineffective. Walcott gave himself the best possible chance to start against the USA on 12th June.

Beckham himself will also be in South Africa – in a coaching role! This unexpected situation arose when coach Fabio Capello offered the ambassador of English football a special position within the squad. This just weeks after being the man chosen to submit England’s bid book to host the 2018 World Cup.

Becks isn’t done yet.