I’M DELIGHTED David Beckham is wanting to come back and play in the Premier League.

I know there are people who say he could do more harm than good to any club he ends up playing for.

It’s true that Becks has become a brand, and a phenomenally powerful one at that, because when you think about it, there aren’t many more famous people in the world.

But it’s also true that he remains a major talent, and one who would surely add something to most sides as well as acting as a role model and inspiration to others in the game.

His presence would also prove a major draw for the fans, and it would be great to see how he handles Premier League football second time around if insurance premiums can be sorted and he can play with Spurs rather than just train with them.

Amazingly, it’s coming up to eight years since he left Manchester United for Real Madrid, where he again proved himself a top talent.

Moving to the USA in 2007 might have been a signal he was stepping back from the highest level, but his two loan stints at Milan showed he still has the hunger.

He doesn’t have to do it financially, and given the lifestyle he must enjoy when in Los Angeles, it must be tempting to stay put, but Beckham (pictured) doesn’t seem the type to sit about doing nothing.

Just look at his willingness to go to last summer’s World Cup, even though he was injured, and his eagerness to get involved in the bid to bring the competition to England.

He’s proved himself an able ambassador for football in this country, but as a player, I don’t think he’s finished yet.

He’s 35 now – remember that red card when playing for England against Argentina in the World Cup in France when he was just 23? – but he still has something to offer.

It’s clear that Tottenham, among other clubs, are keen to have him, and it will be a shame if they can’t get a proper loan completed.

AFTER a break for the FA Cup third round, the Premier League swings back into action on Wednesday.

Blackpool entertain LIverpool in a clash between two of the clubs who have provided so much to talk about so far this season.

Few would have foreseen just how much Liverpool would have struggled – or how well Blackpool would have done.

I’m delighted for my old Town teammate Gary Taylor-Fletcher, and his is an inspiring success story.

Fletch had been plying his trade in non-league football before joining us from Lincoln.

He proved himself to be a skilful player with great feet, winning a move into the Championship in 2007 after Blackpool went up from League I.

With all due respect, I think many thought he’d done well to reach that level, but he’s proved himself a key player as Blackpool have continued to confound the critics.

They’ve approached playing in the Premier League in a refreshingly entertaining way, and with Newcastle and West Brom giving it a good go, we could have a situation where all three of the promoted clubs stay up.

Were that to happen, there will be some other big names playing in the next season’s Championship, which is where we want to be.

At the other end of the table, the race for the title is as open as it has been for years.

Manchester United are out on top at the moment, but they’ve still to hit the level of consistency we expect from them.

Manchester City, with all their talent and spending power, certainly can’t be ruled out, while on their day, Arsenal are a match for any side and play a brand of football which I love to watch.

And while Chelsea have work to do to get back on track, don’t write them off yet.

WASN’T it fantastic to see England seal an outright Ashes series win with their victory over the Aussies in Sydney?

Another innings triumph was a great way to close a magnificent campaign.

With the way England have dominated, it would have been travesty had the Aussies gained a win to make the series end 2-2.

Sure, Ricky Ponting and Co aren’t the force they once were, but let’s not detract from the improvements England have made, both on the pitch and off it, over the last few years.

And going Down Under is never easy, no matter what the standard of the opposition.

Now I want to see us come up with the goods in the forthcoming T20s and one-dayers.

Looking further ahead, we have Test series against Sri Lanka and India coming up, and we need to maintain the momentum.