David Beckham

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Beckham and Reyes out for several weeks each

The extent of the injuries suffered by David Beckham and José Antonio Reyes have been determined. The Englishman is suffering from a Grade II sprain of the internal lateral ligament of the right knee and will be out for approximately four weeks. The Sevillian is suffering from a Grade I-II sprain of the internal lateral ligament of the left knee and will miss between two and three weeks. Both midfielders will therefore miss Real Madrid’s upcoming matches.

Injury blow for Beckham

David Beckham's hopes of an England recall have been temporarily curtailed after results from a scan on a knee injury revealed that he will be sidelined for the next four weeks.

The Real Madrid midfielder injured the lateral ligament in his right knee in Sunday's draw with Getafe and it has now been confirmed that there is no way he will be fit to make a return to the international fold this month.

England boss Steve McClaren has made the bold decision to axe Beckham from his squad since succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson and it had looked as though the player had been cast into the international wilderness for good.

Beckham's decision to move to America at the conclusion of his Madrid contract in the summer also looked to have ended his club career in the Spanish capital but following a change of heart, Real coach Fabio Capello has used the player of late and has been rewarded with a series of assured displays.

Such has been Beckham's rejuvenation, reports have suggested McClaren was contemplating bringing Beckham back for this month's crucial European Championship qualifying double header against Israel and Andorra.

Indeed, McClaren is expected to be present at Real's UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday, but he will now have to focus his attention on Owen Hargreaves' performance rather than Beckham's, following the latter's injury.

"The injuries to Jose Antonio Reyes and David Beckham have been confirmed," read a statement on the club's official website.

"The Sevillian (Reyes) has suffered a grade I-II sprain to the internal lateral ligament of the left knee. The estimated time that he will be out is between three and four weeks.

"The case of David Beckham is slightly more serious. The Englishman has suffered a grade II sprain to the internal lateral ligament of the right knee.

"The estimated time he will be out is around four weeks. Both will therefore miss Real Madrid's upcoming games."

Diagnoses Back On Beckham & Reyes...

David Beckham and Jose Antonio Reyes may return to play again for Real Madrid this season.

The worst was feared for both Beckham and Reyes when they left Real's 1-1 Getafe draw through injury.

Fortunately, though, it appears both players have gotten off with non career-threatening injuries and could miss no more than a month apiece.

Beckham, said Real Madrid on Monday, will miss about four weeks as he is suffering from a Grade II sprain of the internal lateral ligament of the right knee.

Reyes, meantime, could miss less time, as he is suffering from a Grade I-II sprain of the internal lateral ligament of the left knee, the club says.

The presence of both players will be missed as Real look to hold onto their tenuous 3-2 first leg advantage over Bayern Munich this week. The German giants must win, but they enjoy the luxury of two away goals.

The players also will be missing from this weekend's huge Clasico clash with second place Barcelona. The Catalans were leapfrogged by Sevilla at the weekend, while Real are tenuously clinging to fourth place.

The diagnosis of Beckham's injury will be received with a big sigh of relief in the United States, particularly in southern California. It is there the former England captain will join the Los Angeles Galaxy for five years and potentially earn $250 million, although the injury potentially could push back the former England captain's MLS debut.

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Beckham's absence a weight off Bayern minds

The absence of David Beckham means Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has a lot less to worry about as he prepares for Wednesday's Champions League second leg against Real Madrid.

Hitzfeld must still be having nightmares about the way his defence failed to deal with the former England captain in a 3-2 defeat at the Bernabeu in the last 16 tie two weeks ago.

Beckham set up the second and third goals from set-pieces, and played a part in the build-up to the first. News that a knee ligament injury would keep the midfielder out of Wednesday's return in Munich is a weight off the coach's mind.

"Beckham's injury is a big blow to them," Hitzfeld told a news conference on the eve of the return at the Allianz Arena.

"He's a player who can decide a game by himself with his delivery from set-pieces. We will still have to be careful at free kicks and corners but they'll be missing a quality player."

Real coach Fabio Capello said his team would overcome the loss of the in-form Beckham.

"Beckham was playing very well, we know that," Capello said at a news conference. "Now he's injured but we will look forward. It's bad luck and that's that."

Bayern believe they have plenty of reasons to be confident going into the second leg of the first knockout round tie.

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