Beckham to decide on fitness

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If Beckham manages to finally shake off the ankle injury that has curtailed his involvement in the Galaxy side to 12 minutes of a July 21 friendly against Chelsea, he has a chance of another late substitute's appearance on Thursday night when his new side take on DC United at RFK Stadium in Washington DC.

"The ultimate decision will come down to David," Yallop said. "We'll see how he is. I'm not going to put him out there to re-injure it. We'll put him out there when he is fit and ready to go. He's getting close. We won't force it. He knows his own body and he'll let us know if he is ready to go."

DC United player Ben Olsen has meanwhile leapt to Beckham's defence for criticism the England player has received for his delayed start to life in MLS.

His lack of playing time since joining the Galaxy on July 13 has caused frustration for Beckham, his club and soccer fans throughout the United States while some critics have seized on the England player's absence as proof he is not serious about playing in their country.

Olsen, a former Nottingham Forest defender who appeared for the USA at last year's World Cup, has plenty of sympathy for Beckham.

"I feel awful for him," Olsen told the DC United website. "As a player you relate to him as a player and if you were in his situation.

"He understands what is riding on this and the eyes that are on him. For him to be sitting there must be pretty painful.

"Everyone in the media is saying he is here on a holiday; that's ridiculous. This guy who has done great things in his career and has always been a guy who has given 100 per cent when he plays, has had a remarkable career. So for some people to be saying that is ridiculous and I feel for him."