Reuters

Soccer-Beckham hobbles off after training but plans to play

Sat Nov 21, 5:26 PM

By Simon Evans

SEATTLE, Nov 21 (Reuters) - David Beckham limped off after training for Sunday's MLS Cup final, with an icepack wrapped around his injured right ankle, but said he would still be fit to play in the title deciding game against Real Salt Lake.

The England midfielder hobbled past reporters following a training session which was due to be partially open to the media but which ended up taking place entirely behind closed doors.

Asked whether he would be able to play, Beckham nodded in the affirmative while Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said: "David will be fine, David will be fine.

"David has trained for the past three days and there is nothing wrong with David."

Beckham, who picked up the injury in the playoff win over Houston, said on Friday that he would take a pain killing injection before Sunday's game which could bring him his third league title in a third nation following his championships in England with Manchester United and Spain with Real Madrid.

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)