USA's Beasley hoping to get one over England's old City pal Joe

Beasley was the 21-year-old's team-mate at Eastlands during the 2006/07 season when the American enjoyed a loan spell from PSV Eindhoven before joining current club Rangers.

Gloves are on: England goalkeepers Joe Hart (centre) with David James (right) with and Joe Lewis during a training session at London Colney

The pair have remained friends and Beasley, who is back to fitness following five months out with a knee injury, made it clear he would show no mercy should a goal-scoring opportunity come his way during the friendly.

"I spoke to Joe last week and I was happy he got called up to the squad," Beasley said. "He deserved it. I played with him at City last season and I know he has had a tremendous season this year so hopefully I will play against him - and score against him.

"He is a good friend of mine. He is young but he is a guy that Capello sees as one for the future. There are other guys like David James who are in the number one spot but he is right up there.

"This is his first call up so if he gets even half a game I'm sure he will be very happy with that. He is a very nice guy. He was one of the friendliest when I came to City even though he was a young guy. He is a fun guy in training to be around and I have kept in touch with him, along with Micah Richards."

Wembley success would add to an already pleasing week for the 26-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Saturday with a goal at Hampden Park as Rangers beat Queen of the South 3-2 to lift the Scottish Cup.

Eye for goal: Rangers' DaMarcus Beasley celebrates scoring in the Scottish Cup final against Queen of the South

He said: "I would definitely love to score. They are two great stadiums. Hampden has a lot of history and so does Wembley. I'm excited about playing there."

England do not have a competitive fixture until the World Cup qualifiers begin next season but the Americans' journey to South Africa in 2010 begins next month with a double-header with Barbados.

Friendlies with Spain and Argentina after the Wembley clash form the preparation for that at Beasley was determined to book a place in his third finals.

He added: "The friendlies take care of themselves but we want a good run before we go into the World Cup qualifiers. These games are important as it important we come together as a team over the next three weeks or so.

"My favourite memory so far is definitely playing in the '02 World Cup. We got to the quarter-finals and were unlucky not to beat Germany. And we beat Portugal in the first game 3-2. I was at the start of my career with only 15 caps or something like that and that was amazing.

"That's when people started noticing us, after that World Cup. Teams were no longer thinking they could put on some sandals and beat us three or four nothing. We are getting better every year and our players are getting stronger."