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ARENA: BECKHAM FIT TO PLAY
Beckham - fit to play.
Los Angeles Galaxy boss Bruce Arena insisted David Beckham will be fit to play in Sunday night's MLS Cup final despite the England star limping away from his team's final training session.
The Galaxy face Real Salt Lake in a match to decide the 2009 Major League Soccer title but Beckham has been struggling with a bruised bone in his right ankle.
He admitted Friday's training session at Seattle's Qwest Field had been his first since helping the Galaxy reach the final with a 2-0 extra-time victory over Houston seven days earlier and he would need a pain-killing injection to start against Real Salt Lake.
However, as Arena put the Galaxy through their paces at the final venue, media were kept out of the end of the scheduled open training session.
Beckham, also hampered by a cold, later hobbled from the playing area carrying his right boot and with ice wrapped around his ankle.
Asked if he would be fit, the 34-year-old did not stop but gave a thumbs-up sign and smiled before getting on to the Galaxy team bus.
Contrary to the visual evidence, Arena was insistent Beckham did not have a problem.
"Everything's fine, we're ready to go," Arena said. "He's trained for the last three days, there's nothing wrong with David."
As to the suggestion Beckham's ankle may become a target for the Salt Lake players, Arena said: "No. David's played in a few big games. David will be fine."
