Beckham: I'll be back
Published 23:00 15/03/10 By John Cross
David Beckham flew in to Finland yesterday for surgery to save his career - and insists he will not give up on England.
Beckham, 34, last night said he was determined to make a “swift and full recovery" and come back from the heartbreaking Achilles injury which has wrecked his World Cup hopes.
The former England captain is adamant that he will fight back from this latest setback and is determined to see out the final two years of his contract with LA Galaxy.
Beckham has also assured AC Milan that he will be back next year - and he has always maintained that he will not retire from international football while he can still play for his country.
Ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star Beckham has 115 caps, ten short of Peter Shilton’s record of 125.
A source close to Beckham told MirrorFootball last night: “Anyone who is suggesting that David is even thinking about retiring doesn’t know him very well.
“He is absolutely determined to come back from this. He is determined to carry on playing for LA Galaxy, and Milan have already offered him another loan spell. He also said that he was in such good shape that he could play until he was 40.”
It is a devastating blow for Beckham, but the determined midfielder has already set his sights on being back before the end of the MLS season.
Beckham has received an overwhelming level of goodwill messages. His family are comforting him and he may now spend Easter in England - albeit in a cast - before beginning his long road back with LA Galaxy.
Finnish knee specialist Dr Sakari Orava will perform the operation and he said: “To start kicking and playing football will take about three months.
“For maximum performances, and maximum kicks and jumps, maybe it takes one month more, three to four months before one is able to do light playing.”
England boss Fabio Capello is resigned to being without Beckham in South Africa. He said: “David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow.”
Capello’s injury problems on the right wing are mounting, with Aaron Lennon uncertain of when he will play again because of a groin injury.
Now with Beckham also out, Capello is left with Theo Walcott and Shaun Wright-Phillips and that could mean a dramatic recall for Tottenham’s David Bentley.
Capello looked at Bentley for the Egypt friendly earlier this month and the midfielder is set to return for Tottenham this weekend after injury.
