David Beckham admits a call-up to Fabio Capello's first England squad would have been "unfair" on his team-mates.
Beckham is one game short of winning 100 England caps
The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, 32, has not played a competitive game since the end of last year but has trained with Arsenal to retain his fitness.
Beckham - omitted for Wednesday's game with Switzerland - told Sky Sports: "It's always disappointing when you're not included in an England squad.
"I haven't played since December so to be called up was probably unfair."
The former England captain played under Capello at Real Madrid and it is the second time he has been dropped by the Italian after falling out of favour at the Bernabeu before regaining his place.
There are a lot of Premiership players who have played 15 games in the last two months and I haven't played a game since December
Capello's first match as manager of the England side is at Wembley but Beckham, who is only one appearance short of winning 100 caps, revealed he was not surprised by the decision to leave him out of the initial 30-man squad.
"I half expected it because I know what Fabio Capello is like as a manager," he added.
"If he thinks you're not fit and ready to play then you won't be in the team. I totally respect that and totally understand that.
"There are a lot of Premiership players who have played 15 games in the last two months and I haven't played a game since December."
The Major League Soccer season in America finished at the end of last year and does not resume until March.
And Beckham has taken time off to make visits to Africa and South America, a decision that has drawn criticism in some quarters.
But the former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder denies that those trips were a mistake.
"I'd done everything I could to make myself available, I worked hard for a month with Arsenal," insisted Beckham.
"I did go to Sierra Leone and Brazil but those trips were only four days long and for the rest of the month I was training very hard.
"It's simply down to not playing any games, the manager explained that, and I wish him and the rest of the players good luck for the first game.
"I think he's a great appointment and he's going to be good for the English game."