By Peter Fraser Last updated: 17th October 2007
Beckham: Fight for his place
David Beckham is no longer guaranteed a place in the Los Angeles Galaxy first-team, according to coach Frank Yallop.
The midfielder trained for the fourth time in two weeks on Tuesday as he continues his recovery from a knee injury, but his status for the forthcoming game against New York is uncertain.
Beckham is said to be performing well in training for the Galaxy and is close to a return to action, but Yallop insists the England international will not walk straight back into the side.
The Galaxy have won their last five games as they chase qualification for the MLS eight-team play-offs and Yallop is reluctant to tinker with a winning team when Beckham regains full fitness.
"Last week was a good week for him," said Yallop. "We didn't push him and he didn't push himself, so that didn't put him back. I think that was important to him.
"I've got to talk to him to make sure he's feeling good. He'd be a pretty valuable substitute if he was available (against New York).
"But at this point, it's about winning. Whatever combination of players I put out there has to win a game. It's not about one person; he knows that.
"I'm not going to just change the line-up with the people coming back from injury. You can't do that with a team that's on a six-game unbeaten streak and has won five games in a row.
"For me it's a great message for people coming back that they have to work their way into the team. That's the correct way to have it.
"He's not close to being 100 per cent. We're not going to force him in there. It would be nice to get him on the field at some point because he's such a good player.
"I think he's going to be a little bit rusty obviously, not being in the squad, not training with the guys, but I think he's moving well.
"There's no doubt he can play, we know that. It's just the injuries and the movement. He looks like he's not hindered by anything at the moment."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
Ed Chamberlin sees United and Chelsea cancelling each other out on Sunday, while racing feels the freeze.
Paul Merson expects strugglers West Brom and Spurs to lose to Aston Villa and Wigan this weekend.
Nigel Clough's appointment as Derby manager sees him follow in the footsteps of his legendary father Brian.
Paul Ince insists he is ready to return to football management should a suitable opportunity arise.
Stoke City have completed the signing of Matthew Etherington, while Charles N'Zogbia claims Aston Villa and Spurs want him.
Mark Hughes has revealed that Manchester City have seen a 'substantial' bid for Roque Santa Cruz knocked back.
Newcastle star Charles N'Zogbia claims Aston Villa and Tottenham are chasing his signature.
Midfielder Lucas Leiva believes Liverpool can beat anyone as they target the Premier League title.