Inadvertent deletion of desktop icon

Whilst tidying up my desktop, I deleted the 'show desktop' icon so now, when I click the desk top short cut icon in the task bar next to 'Start', I get an error message and no desktop. I can return to the desktop by closing or minimising open tabs but this is not always convenient. Is there a simple way to recover this link to my desk top?

Cheers

Cadcro

 

http://www.winhelponline.com/xp/showdesktop.htm

three different methods in the above article, do not use the guided help from the first method, guided help for xp was discontinued.

 

Thank you very much for that Elizabeth23. Method 3 restored the desktop icon. Could you possibly tell me the procedure to make the icon visible on the task bar. It is available in the dropdown menu but would be more convenient if it was permanently visible. I have tried dragging it from the menu but have had no success.
Many thanks,

cadcro

 

I have solved my second query by unlocking and expanding the task bar. Many thanks for your assistance.

cadcro

 

you're welcome