Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has leapt to the defence of fellow London boy David Beckham.

Yet rather than rejoice at a magnificent 108-cap international career, Beckham's many critics are using the milestone to attack him, suggesting the 33-year-old does not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Moore.

As a graduate of the West Ham academy, Ferdinand needs little reminding of Moore's special place in English football.

But he does not see why it should be used as a tool to beat Beckham with, and does not feel the former Manchester United star deserves such treatment anyway.

"I don't understand why people argue against him," said Ferdinand.

"It's just because it's Becks. He has become such a big personality in the entertainment world, so people think he doesn't deserve it.

"But you do not play for Milan, Manchester United and Real Madrid without being a good player.

"He's been through five or six England managers, so he must be doing something right.

"There's no taking away what Bobby Moore was - an icon of English football who lifted the World Cup. Becks going past his record will not detract from that."

Beckham is presently trying to find a way of extricating himself from an exceptionally lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy in order to sign a full-time deal with AC Milan.

At 33, he is enjoying a fabulous autumn to a career Ferdinand feels is destined to be ranked alongside the very best in the game.

"He has had ups and downs but always seems to rise above the negative stuff," said the £29.1million defender.

"The fact is David is a top player.

"If he wins the league in Italy he'll be the only player to win the title in the three biggest leagues.

"He was part of a team that won the treble at Manchester United. He went to Spain and won the league there and with England he was the main reason we went to the World Cup in 2002 with his performance against Greece."

As former United team-mates, Ferdinand shares a bond with Beckham that goes beyond their London roots.

And during a chat at England's Watford training base last night, Ferdinand could sense his long-time international team-mate is benefiting from life in Milan.

"People think David's life is all about the catwalk but you don't go to Milan and get in that team being half-hearted," he said.

"He is a winner who wants to give himself the best opportunity to play for England.

"Being at Milan seems to have rejuvenated him. He's talking about who he's training with and what it's like. He seems delighted to be playing football again.

"It is important for Becks to have this opportunity to come and play for such a prestigious club with people like Paolo Maldini, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo and (Alexandre) Pato."

Beckham is back among more familiar and in some cases equally talented team-mates with England.

Luke Young might have returned to Aston Villa with a toe injury but the rest of Fabio Capello's 23-man squad remains in tact, eager to take their chance with the developing Three Lions in the absence of Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott.

Emile Heskey and Shaun Wright-Phillips should train tomorrow after missing out on the first of two sessions before meeting the Euro 2008 winners.

And, while John Terry may be slightly distracted by the stunning news of Luiz Felipe Scolari's sacking by Chelsea, Ferdinand will ensure his central defensive partner does not let him down as he tries to maintain the impressive record he can boast at club level.

Although Ferdinand's recent back problem has kept him out of more than 50% of United's incredible run of 13 games without conceding a goal, he can still claim major credit.

"There is a winning mentality at United that is as strong as I have known since I signed for the club," said Ferdinand, who arrived at Old Trafford back in 2002.

"The desire not to concede goals, to be winners, to achieve things and claim more titles and victories is just incredible.

"Once you get on a roll like this, it's in the back of our mind when you are warming up and playing. That's the kind of mentality we need with England.

"First and foremost we want to win the game, then to do so in as effective a manner as we can."