'Beckham's England career is not over'

Updated 12.46 Fri Aug 31 2007
Keywords: Euro 2008, LA Galaxy, England, Steve McClaren, football, David Beckham, sport

Steve McClaren has insisted that David Beckham's knee injury will not spell the end of his England career.

A scan has revealed that Beckham suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee during Los Angeles Galaxy's SuperLiga trophy final defeat against Pachuca in California.

Beckham will miss England's clash with Israel at Wembley a week on Saturday, as well as the visit of Russia four days later and could be struggling to be fit for the qualifiers with Estonia and Russia, on October 13 and 17, respectively

As a result the 32-year-old midfielder will miss the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia.

And if he is out for the next four to six weeks, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star could be struggling to be fit for the qualifiers with Estonia and Russia, on October 13 and 17, respectively.

But McClaren is refusing to call time on Beckham's England days. He said: "It is a big blow for us. He is a big player and we are coming up to big games and we need big players for big games.

"He is injured and how well he recovers and how fast he recovers and how he plays from there on, we will see."

Beckham, who has already missed eight games for the Galaxy since heading Stateside after four years in Spain, is three caps away from making his 100th appearance for his country.

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