Riding a five-game winning streak and with their season coming down to two vital games this week, the Los Angeles Galaxy have a bit of a interesting problem.
The MLS Cup Playoffs are within reach, and the Galaxy's long injury list is shortening by the day. Yet as internationals such as David Beckham, Abel Xavier and Chris Albright return to training, Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop says he will not be changing the recipe that has led to LA's success.
"I'm not going to just change the lineup with the people coming back from injury. You can't do that with a team that's on a six-game unbeaten streak and has won five games in a row," said Yallop. "For me it's a great message for people coming back that they have to work their way into the team. That's the correct way to have it. Any pro would tell you, whether they're in the team or out of it, that's the way it should be."
Of the group, Beckham could be the closest to making a return to the starting lineup. In Tuesday's training session at The Home Depot Center, he participated in full.
"Yes we have players coming back, i.e. David, who's a world-class player, but he's not close to being 100 percent," said Yallop. "We're not going to force him in there. It would be nice to get him on the field at some point because he's such a good player."
Beckham played in a short-sided game with the other long-term injury casualties, including Albright, Xavier and Kelly Gray, but played full out in the session, going into a couple of challenges along the way. He also hit some crosses and free kicks, though some were off target.
"He's trained well today. I think last week was a good week for him. We didn't push him and he didn't push himself, so that didn't put him back," Yallop said. "He's not 90 minutes fit, but just to get him on the field would be good at this point."
While there's no doubting the quality of the players coming back from the injury list, Yallop's system is also one well known within the Galaxy locker room.
"If we win and keep playing well Frank is going to keep the team as much as he can. He did it in San Jose for three years in a row," said Landon Donovan. "If we were winning and doing well then you don't come out of the lineup. Hopefully for everyone's sake we keep the same team going."
Yallop said it still remained to be seen how Beckham would react physically to training on Tuesday and Wednesday before any final decision could be made for his availability for Thursday's all-important match against the New York Red Bulls.
"He would be a pretty valuable substitute I would think if he's available for our team," Yallop said. "We know the quality of David and what he brings to the team, so if he is feeling good and we want to do it, we will."
Beckham did not speak to reporters following the training session. Yallop said he also wanted to make sure he spoke with the England international and ensure he was fine, but that the practice did show a lot.
"I think he's going to be a little bit rusty obviously, not being in the squad, not training with the guys but I think he's moving well. That's the thing I look at really. There's no doubt he can play, we know that. It's just the injuries and the movement. He looks like he's not hindered by anything at the moment," Yallop said.
"Soccer fitness, there's no other fitness like it in the world. We realize getting in the 60th minute and hitting a ball is difficult. He's worked real hard with his trainers and our medical staff and he's as fit as he can be at this point. Then obviously it's about match fitness."
Contributing: Luis Bueno.Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
