LOS ANGELES, Aug 14 (Reuters) - David Beckham, who has been hampered by an injured left ankle for the last two months, expects to play a major role for Los Angeles Galaxy in their SuperLiga semi-final against D.C. United on Wednesday. 公仔箱論壇1 W# \. Y5 U5 [0 Q ?% h, j2 V
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'I think I can play at least half a game tomorrow, which is important for me,' Beckham, 32, told reporters on Tuesday after taking part in his first training session with the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. 3 A. L0 U8 `- j/ C' Q7 t
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'It's important for the team that I at least get on the pitch and help contribute. It was good to get out on to the field today and have a bit of practice. * |7 f. y# ^5 ?; R, ]7 w' |+ a v F
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'This is my first time, since I arrived, to be out on the training pitch and it felt good.'
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& P( j+ ]! l6 c1 b9 sBeckham said he was still feeling some pain in his Achilles' tendon and under the ankle. 'My ankle's not perfect,' he added. 'It's about 70-80 percent.'
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Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop said: 'David is available to start and play a significant role tomorrow against D.C. United.
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c0 P0 E+ p4 j0 j! k7 H8 D'I fully expect to give him his SuperLiga debut at some point in the contest. Tomorrow's game is very important to the club and we have a number of players injured or suspended so to have David available will be a big boost.' 6 A+ [+ y) U2 t; w# l1 W+ ]
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Yallop will have to decide whether he prefers to start with Beckham, who is well short of his usual fitness level, or bring his high-profile signing on to the pitch late in the match. 5.39.217.76+ V/ ~9 {: p; a& R/ ]) L* w% v
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'It's been frustrating for all of us not to have someone like David available,' Yallop added. 'I think David will be the one who knits it all together.'
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Beckham, one of the world's most marketable sports figures, has made only two fleeting appearances for the Galaxy since joining the Major League Soccer (MLS) club midway through last month.
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He played for 16 minutes as a late substitute against FA Cup holders Chelsea on July 21 before making his MLS debut on Thursday at D.C. United, playing the final 21 minutes in a 1-0 loss before a capacity crowd of 46,686.
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7 r/ l) S$ H2 a7 n% o公仔箱論壇Signed from Real Madrid on a $32.5 million five-year deal, Beckham spent most of his first three weeks in Los Angeles receiving ice treatment and massage in the treatment room or working in the gym. tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb, u" E ~8 I! i% n+ Q
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The former England captain twisted his ankle playing for his country against Estonia in a Euro 2008 qualifying match in June.
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5 u: t" [# Q3 ~1 XHe then aggravated it in his final appearance for Real 11 days later when his former team clinched the Spanish league title. |
發表於 2007-8-15 04:27 PM
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