BECKS IN RACE TO FACE BLUES

David Beckham will spend the rest of the weekend getting treatment on an ankle injury as he bids to be fit for his Los Angeles Galaxy debut against Chelsea next Saturday.

The England midfielder first damaged left ankle ligaments during England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia on June 6 and the injury appeared to be aggravated as Beckham helped Real Madrid closed in on the Spanish league title.

The Galaxy's newest signing revealed he had been working on his fitness during a three-week holiday in the south of France and he was hopeful of being fit to face the FA Cup winners at the Home Depot Center in a friendly on July 21.

"I was on a bicycle, doing a lot for the last two weeks, so physically I'm great, doing 45 kilometres a day. So that was good for me physically," he said.

"My ankle is still slightly swollen. I ran on it for the first time about three days ago in London and it felt slightly unstable still.

"So there's still a bit of work to do and hopefully I'll be getting that work done in the next couple of days by massaging and treatment and hopefully a bit of running.

"We'll take it from there and hopefully it should be right for the first game against Chelsea."

Beckham reiterated his desire to continue playing for England despite the long-distance travel that would be involved in getting from Los Angeles to Europe for matches and the number of Galaxy games he would have to miss in the process.

"The Galaxy have made it quite clear they're very proud for me to be part of the England team again and they'll do everything possible for me to play in every game in which I'm picked," he insisted.

"Steve McClaren said to me before the Estonia game that if my fitness is right, then he doesn't see a problem with me travelling back and forwards. So, for me, that's enough."

Beckham later said: "If I'm called up for a friendly, if I'm called up to play in a qualifier, if I'm called up to play any game possible for my country, I'll be there."

He also spoke fondly of his four seasons with Real Madrid, which ended in May with the Bernabeu giants winning La Liga - their first title during his spell in the Spanish capital.

"I'll always miss Spain because people made me so welcome to the country," he said. "Not just me as a footballer but to my whole family as well and I'll always be forever grateful to the people and the fans of Real Madrid for that.

"Not just the fans in Madrid but all around Spain. The support that they showed to me as a footballer, and to my family, was really incredible. I'll always miss Spain."

Beckham also revealed the sacking of Fabio Capello as Real Madrid coach had surprised him and, despite being dropped by the Italian midway through the season and being told by him that he would never play again for Real when he announced his decision to leave the club, the Englishman paid tribute to his former coach.

"I was very surprised. He started to bring stability to the team," Beckham said.

"After the first six or seven months stability started to come through and the togetherness of the team, and we won La Liga.

"So I was very surprised by it but maybe I shouldn't have been because there's been many changes at the club while I've been there.

"I wish him all the best of luck in whatever he goes on to.

"He's a great manager, he's had great achievements throughout his career and I'm sure he'll go on to have more."

Taken from =footBall365=