Beckham's body at breaking point

His LA Galaxy paymasters are demanding that they get their 'money's worth' after his team crashed 3-0 and Beckham was involved in an unsavoury incident when he might have been sent off.

They are also considering blocking Beckham's call-up for some England games. He completed 90 minutes for England on Wednesday — and 90 minutes for LA Galaxy in the early hours of yesterday morning.

He has told LA Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, though, to forget any thoughts of pulling him out of future friendlies.

But Lalas has raised concerns that Beckham's gruelling schedule could mean Galaxy not getting full value from the former England skipper and suggested the player may have to skip some internationals.

The Galaxy chief said: 'We have a vested interest in this player and we have spent a tremendous amount for his services. We want to make sure we get our money's worth and that he is both physically and mentally ready to go when he plays for us.

'There are FIFA dates we have to abide by, but if it is an England friendly that doesn't fall on a FIFA date that is obviously something we will have to discuss with the player.

'I'm not going to deny there comes a point when your body can't Ashton: anxious do it any more. If we felt it was detrimental to his health or ability to help our team, we would take action.'

That stance could put Beckham on a collision course with the club after he insisted there is no chance of him sitting out England games now that he is back in Steve McClaren's plans.

A Beckham spokesman said: 'If he's called up by England he will always play. Alexi Lalas understands that if he is injury-free he will always play.'

Beckham, struggling with an ankle injury, played all 90 minutes of Galaxy's 3-0 loss to local rivals Chivas on Thursday — 30 hours after the Germany game.

The match was marred by ugly scenes sparked when Beckham reacted after being kicked by Jesse Marsch. In the ensuing melee Galaxy midfielder Kevin Harmse threw a punch at Alex Zotinca, who took offence and butted Harmse. The pair were sent off.

Beckham limped off at the final whistle, his troublesome ankle swollen, prompting Galaxy coach Frank Yallop to say: 'I wasn't going to play him but he wanted to play and realises the situation the team are in. He's that kind of a guy but at the end, he looked a bit hobbled and should have been rested.'

Beckham is desperate to play in the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel, Russia and Estonia in September and October but it is the friendly in Austria on November 16 which is likely to prove