David Beckham returned to Milan yesterday to start practicing with his team once more. The England captain has spent the last six months playing in the US soccer league.

Beckham was warmly welcomed by the Milan team with whom he played in the first half of the year. The player is now keen to start competitive soccer as soon as possible to get back into shape. His main objective is for Fabio Capello, the English team’s coach for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa next year, to include him in the World Cup team.

Capello recently said in an interview that the 34 year old’s age did not affect his chances in the least. “I am interested in quality and not just their age,” he said.
Beckham’s first opportunity to play could come on January 6th already when he plays with Milan against Genoa at San Siro.

In the meantime, AC Milan’s doctor, Massimo Manara, who examined Beckham on his return, gave the player thumbs up health wise. “I found David Beckham really well,” he said to the media. “Even though a year has passed, he looked to be at the same level as a year ago to me. The problem he had with his right foot in previous weeks is resolved.”

Beckham had trouble with a bruised right ankle bone in the run up to the Major League Soccer final, where his loan team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, lost to Real Salt Lake.