Beckham hopeful of Galaxy return next week

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - David Beckham is expected to return to action for the Los Angeles Galaxy next week after six weeks off through injury, the club said on Thursday.

LA Galaxy president Alexi Lalas said the England international had started light training this week after spraining a ligament in his right knee in late August.

"We are hopeful he will play a part in the next two home games -- not this weekend but the following weekend," Lalas said at the annual Honda football symposium in Los Angeles.

"But if for one instant, we feel he is physically or mentally not 100 percent ready, he will not play for us nor will he play for England," Lalas added.

Midfielder Beckham, 32, joined the LA Galaxy in July, mid-way through the Major League Soccer (MLS) season on a five-year contract which could potentially earn him a reported $250 million (123 million pounds), mainly from endorsements.

But because of a nagging ankle injury, he played only 310 minutes in six games for Galaxy before spraining his knee on August 29.

Lalas said the club had been under tremendous pressure to play Beckham, despite the old ankle injury, when he arrived in Los Angeles with his celebrity wife Victoria.

"Looking back, was it the best decision for him? Probably not," Lalas said. "But...there was so much attention, so much focus on David and people wanted to see him out there."