David Beckham set to miss World Cup

Reuters

CROCKED: David Beckham on crutches leaves a Milan hotel on his way to Finland for an operation on his torn Achilles tendon.

Reuters

UH-OH: AC Milan's David Beckham leaves the pitch after being injured against Chievo.

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2009/2007: Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham acknowledges fans (at right) as he leaves the field after a MLS match in New Jersey while he poses after playing the Phoenix in Wellington.

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England's David Beckham is set to miss this year's World Cup despite undergoing successful surgery on his torn Achilles tendon.

The 34-year-old suffered the injury in AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo yesterday (NZ time) and flew to Finland for an operation performed by one of the world's top specialists.

"So far everything is fine," surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava told Reuters. "The operation went smoothly and nicely."

Orava was asked whether the midfielder would be able to play in the World Cup in South Africa starting on June 11.

"No, I don't think so ... healing takes a long time," he said.

Beckham's foot will be in a cast for around six to eight weeks, after which he can start "more vigorous" physiotherapy.

Beckham, England's most capped outfield player with 115 appearances, had been bidding to play in a fourth World Cup.

"I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of support," Beckham said on his official website. "I hope to make a swift and full recovery."

"We have to wait for the results of the scan, but it looks like he is out of the World Cup.

"I spoke with him after the game on Sunday night to offer my support, as did (assistant) Franco Baldini.

"David is a great professional and has worked very hard to be ready for the World Cup, so missing it will be a big blow."

Beckham was getting ready to kick a ball unchallenged late in Sunday's Serie A match when he suddenly pulled up and shouted to the Milan bench "It's broken."

"Today we allow patients to do motion earlier than before. In this case we try to get motion back as soon as possible. The operation takes less than one hour," Orava added.

MINOR MIRACLE

"(After the) the first month, there can gradually be more and more motion and muscle contractions, and very gradually (shifting) from light training to harder training in the second month.

"After that, one is usually able to walk and maybe start running lightly after two months if everything goes fine. All this depends on the type of tear," he added.

Beckham, on loan at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy for a second time, will miss the Serie A run-in with his side a point behind leaders Inter Milan with 10 games left.

Milan doctors said the former England captain would almost certainly miss the World Cup while chief executive Adriano Galliani reckoned he could be out for around five or six months.

Beckham is due to return to Galaxy in July but Galliani said the Italian club would love to have him back again next season.

"In the dressing room I hugged him and told him that he could stay with us again next year if he wants," Galliani told Sky television.

Renowned surgeon Orava performed a minor miracle in fixing Peter Fill's Achilles in good time for last month's Winter Olympics after the Italian skier injured himself in October.

However, Beckham has even less time before the World Cup and has largely been a substitute under England coach Fabio Capello, who has many other options on the right wing.

Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips and James Milner are among the players able to play there although Tottenham's Aaron Lennon is currently injured.

- Reuters