Beckham set for LA bench

England star will have to fight for his place

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 17th October 2007

Beckham David

Beckham: Fight for his place

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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.

Valuable

"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.

Force

"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."