David Beckham says he is determined to make a “swift and full recovery” from the ruptured Achilles tendon that has left his dream of playing in a record fourth World Cup finals for England in tatters.
- Source: Yahoo
The 34-year-old midfielder flew to Finland this morning to visit Dr Sakari Orava, professor of orthopaedics and traumatology at the Mehilainen Clinic in Turku, who is expected to perform surgery on the player’s left tendon this afternoon.
Dr Orava confirmed it would take a minimum of four months for Beckham to fully recover from the injury, prompting some to predict the setback could even curtail his illustrious 18-year playing career.
Yet Beckham has already set his sights on a return to the game. “I am on my way to Finland to see a specialist and have a scan on the injury,” Beckham said in a statement released on his website earlier today.
“I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of support. I hope to make a swift and full recovery.”
The injury occurred when Beckham pulled up under no pressure from an opposing player in the final minutes of AC Milan’s 1-0 victory over Chievo at San Siro last night. The former England captain hopped from the pitch in obvious pain and collapsed on the sidelines. He was treated for about five minutes on the touchline before eventually being carried from the arena face down on a stretcher in tears, mouthing “it’s broken, it’s broken” to those on the home bench, while members of Milan’s backroom staff tried to comfort him.
“David’s injury makes us sick,” Leonardo, the Milan coach, said. “When I think of his personal history, everything I know about him, how hard he works, I feel so bad for him. “Tonight was a very important win for us, but David’s news definitely puts a downer on the evening. David knew he was injured immediately.”
Fabio Capello, the England manager, telephoned Beckham last night to offer his best wishes for a full recovery, but he must now write the 34-year-old out of his plans.
Beckham is England’s most-capped outfield player with 115 caps. He rejoined Milan in January for his second spell on loan at the club from the Los Angeles Galaxy, during their offseason from Major League Soccer, to safeguard his place in the England squad place.
However, he has not been an automatic first choice for Milan and began the Champions League round-of-16, second-leg match away to Manchester United, his former club, last week on the substitutes’ bench. Now, bearing in mind that he will be 35 in May, he has almost certainly played his last game for England.
