For the first time since injuring his knee in late August, David Beckham returned to the Home Depot Center training fields, joining the LA Galaxy for a light session on Wednesday.
While there is no word on when the English superstar would return to the field to play a match, Beckham walked off the training field showing no ill effect from the light workout, participating in a short-sided scrimmage. He was injured in the SuperLiga final against Mexican side CF Pachuca on Aug. 29.
"I wasn't meant to be training today, but once I'm out there it felt good. Today went well but we'll just have to see how it is this afternoon and tomorrow," said Beckham. "I'm still restricted on many things but overall it felt great."
Beckham drifted wide right for most of the scrimmage, avoiding some of the rougher play in the middle of the field. Overall though, training was light in general, with very few hard tackles. Wednesday's training session was actually just the second time Beckham has had a full training session with the team. He hardly looked like he missed a beat in his time off with injury, playing a handful of long passes.
"He hasn't kicked the ball with the team in I don't know how long and he looks like he's not been out of the lineup," said Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop. "He's just an unbelievable player. Once you see him live and work around him he's incredible."
Now speculation turns to when, not if, Beckham will return to the field. There is little chance that he will suit up for Sunday's game in Houston, as with only a few days between Wednesday's session and the team's flight to Houston on Saturday, there just isn't enough time for the club to evaluate his knee. But that hasn't stopped his teammates from anticipating his return.
"(Beckham) looked great. He's amazing. I'm sure he'll probably be sore tomorrow, but he looked fine," said Landon Donovan. "I don't know how long until he plays but I would assume he's not playing this weekend. But he's going to help us when he gets back."
The most ambitious hope would seem to be that Beckham will be healthy in time for the Oct. 13 match against the New York Red Bulls.
"We've got to make sure we pull the reins in a little bit. It's his first day. He's going to be sore. We're looking for hopefully (next weekend)," said Yallop. "It's 10 days before that game and if he trains the same way with no reaction, then he's going to say he's ready to go."
By that time the Galaxy will either be right in the thick of the playoff race or all but eliminated from postseason contention. If it's the former, Beckham could well be the difference between the Galaxy extending their season or going on an early vacation for the second consecutive year.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
