Beckham's fitness won't be risked

David Beckham has admitted that his prospects of being fit to line up for Los Angeles against Chelsea are not looking good.

And the Major League Soccer club's general manager Alexi Lalas has insisted that the 32-year-old England midfielder's fitness will not be risked.

But Beckham, who has been struggling with the ankle problem he suffered during England's Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia last month, could still feature towards the end of Saturday's friendly.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star said: "I've been having a lot of treatment but at the moment it doesn't look good, I'm afraid. The swelling's still there.

"I'm here for five years, I'm not here just for the game on Saturday. It's great that Chelsea are here with great players and a great manager but it's more important for me personally that my ankle's right.

"Maybe I will play some part towards the end of the game if it's all right but we'll see."

Lalas added: "We are not going to risk it if we believe the amount of time that he does or does not play is going to affect him further on down the line.

"It's a big game, it's an important game, but guess what? There is going to be another one next week and another one the following week."

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