Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has revealed out-of-favour midfielder David Beckham is only now getting back to his best after being axed by England.
Beckham resigned as England captain after the World Cup and has since not been involved in the national team set-up under new boss Steve McClaren.
He has also not figured in Capello's recent first-team plans.
Capello said: "Those are moments which produce psychological difficulties. Now he's regaining all his composure."
He added: "I think Beckham is an outstanding professional. He always gives his best both in training and when he is playing.
606 DEBATE: Your views on Beckham
"But a coach needs the overall picture. In Beckham's case, he has had bad times after being left out of England's national team."
Beckham's current contract at Real comes to an end next summer and he is delaying on signing a new deal with a question mark over his place in Capello's plans.
But Capello said: "The other day in the Champions League he played very well and now he seems to have become the Beckham we once knew.
"But I think the hardest test for him was to stop being captain of the England team."