Becks facing a month off
From NEIL CUSTIS
in Aarhus, Denmark
DAVID BECKHAM could be rested for the first month of the season.
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is worried about Beckham's lack of fitness less than a fortnight before the start of the season.
And Beckham has complained that he is still being troubled by his broken left foot.
Fergie does not want Becks to be pushed back into the full thrust of the Premiership only to break down again later.
The boss has been monitoring the effects international football has been having on the England captain. He was concerned last season about the physical and mental strain the World Cup campaign was putting on Beckham.
Fergie rested him mid-season for six games after believing his performances had dropped well below his high standards.
Beckham was furious at being left out of the team but admitted at the end of the season that it was probably the best thing for him.
Ferguson will not want to start the new campaign with a half-fit Beckham or find himself in a position once again where the player needs resting in mid-season.
Fergie made it clear while out here on United's pre-season tour that he felt Beckham should not have gone on England's pre-World Cup trip to Dubai.
He said Becks should have stayed in Manchester for more treatment and joined up with the squad later.
Ferguson said: "The World Cup was too early for him. He shouldn't have gone to Dubai, he should have stayed behind and worked here.
"England wanted him there because he was captain. He wasn't quite there in the games."
Beckham is the fittest player at United, regularly topping physical training tests.
But Ferguson is clearly concerned about how far he can be pushed and does not want to risk burn-out with his 27-year-old megastar
From NEIL CUSTIS
in Aarhus, Denmark
DAVID BECKHAM could be rested for the first month of the season.
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is worried about Beckham's lack of fitness less than a fortnight before the start of the season.
And Beckham has complained that he is still being troubled by his broken left foot.
Fergie does not want Becks to be pushed back into the full thrust of the Premiership only to break down again later.
The boss has been monitoring the effects international football has been having on the England captain. He was concerned last season about the physical and mental strain the World Cup campaign was putting on Beckham.
Fergie rested him mid-season for six games after believing his performances had dropped well below his high standards.
Beckham was furious at being left out of the team but admitted at the end of the season that it was probably the best thing for him.
Ferguson will not want to start the new campaign with a half-fit Beckham or find himself in a position once again where the player needs resting in mid-season.
Fergie made it clear while out here on United's pre-season tour that he felt Beckham should not have gone on England's pre-World Cup trip to Dubai.
He said Becks should have stayed in Manchester for more treatment and joined up with the squad later.
Ferguson said: "The World Cup was too early for him. He shouldn't have gone to Dubai, he should have stayed behind and worked here.
"England wanted him there because he was captain. He wasn't quite there in the games."
Beckham is the fittest player at United, regularly topping physical training tests.
But Ferguson is clearly concerned about how far he can be pushed and does not want to risk burn-out with his 27-year-old megastar
