Beckham eyes role in Greece friendly
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-08-01 15:27 LONDON - David Beckham hopes he will overcome his
injury problems in time for Steve McClaren's first game as England boss, a
friendly against Greece on August 16.
Beckham stepped down as England captain after the World Cup but has not
retired from international football and wants to win 100 caps.
He may not be fit for the Greece run-out, however, after reporting discomfort
in his injured Achilles tendon on his return to training with Real Madrid last
week.
Beckham, 31, suffered the injury during the World Cup quarter-final against
Portugal on July 1.
He was originally expected to be out for six weeks but returned to training,
two weeks ahead of schedule, only to break down during a light jog.
Real Madrid doctor Juan Carlos Hernandez said a scan had shown the injury to
be healing well and the 94-cap England star hopes to join his team-mates on a
pre-season tour to the USA, next week.
Beckham, anxious to impress new Real boss Fabio Capello, said: "Hopefully
I'll be fit to play in the games in the USA.
"We'll have to wait and see because I only started running on Sunday without
any pain.
"I have to take it easy because I want to be fit for the start of the season,
which is the most important thing.
"Of course I want to improve my fitness so it is important to try to play in
every pre-season friendly possible."
Real will play two friendly games in the United States, on August 9 and 12.
The Spanish league season does not start until September 10, when Real have an
away trip to Levante.
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