Crucial weeks on road to recovery

David Beckham could be back in action within six weeks.

His hopes of making the World Cup tournament in Japan were raised today when Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier said some of the fears about the Manchester United star's injuries had already been "revised".

Mr Crozier said he had spoken to United's chief executive Peter Kenyon about Beckham.

"Clearly the first 48 hours are always crucial. But I think people have already revised things to circa six weeks. It sounds a little bit more hopeful and we are obviously hopeful that things will keep improving."

If Beckham is back in six weeks, it would give him 10 days to prepare for England's opening World Cup clash against Sweden on 2 June.

United today confirmed that the England captain has broken the second metatarsal bone in his left foot.

Under his recovery plan, the plaster on his left foot, which is a precautionary measure, will be taken off in the next two or three days to be replaced by an air boot.

This will offer complete protection but allow Beckham more mobility for him to maintain his fitness. While wearing the appliance he can keep in shape by aqua-jogging - running in water. This will do the broken bone no harm and will make sure that he stays in top physical condition.

During the next three weeks, there will be calcification around the broken bone. The encouraging aspect is that the break is in the middle of the bone, not on the side. That means there will be fewer, if any, complications.

After three weeks, the injury will be checked by the Manchester United doctor and, if X-rays show the calcification is hard enough, Beckham will be able to exercise without the air boot. He will be allowed to step up his physical work in non-impact training.

After another three weeks, he will be checked again and, if all has gone to plan, he will be able to resume playing.

His comeback will be delayed only if, when he is re-examined in three weeks, the new bone that has formed around the injury is not hard enough for him to work without the air boot.

In a TV interview, GP Dr Mike Smith said that the way Beckham landed after being tackled could have caused the damage. "It looked like the impact was on his right side but we're told it was his left foot. Chances are it was the landing. What might have happened is that his foot would have bent downwards so pulling the bone and fracturing it that way."

Orthopaedic surgeon Richard Rawlins said: "He's unlikely to need an operation, but his doctors will want the foot to be nonweight bearing for at least three weeks. That may mean him hobbling around on his heel with a stick or on crutches, but he will be able to maintain his general cardiovascular fitness by using a rowing machine or swimming - anything that doesn't put pressure on the injured foot."

Mr Rawlins, a consultant at Bedford hospital, continued: "Beckham's injury is a very common sports injury and the most effective treatment is usually to leave it to mother nature, plus some physiotherapy."

He added: "He's young, extremely fit and is known to recover quickly from injury, and I'm sure his wife will be a great help in the recovery process."

Beckham has surprised fans by the speed of his recovery from injuries in the past. He was fit to play in last night's match after making a remarkable recovery from an injury to his ankle in the first leg match against Deportivo La Coruna on 2 April, which at the time led to speculation over his World Cup place.

The ferocity of the tackle that time from Diego Tristan was such that even the Spanish press described the Deportivo player as a "man who had lost his senses".

Beckham was stretchered off the pitch in tears with cuts to his ankle from Tristan's studs.

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