Soccer-Beckham ready for another lead role in New York

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES, Aug 16 (Reuters) - David Beckham is eager to deliver another command performance for Los Angeles Galaxy in a Major League Soccer (MLS) match against New York Red Bulls on Saturday before linking up with the England squad next week.

The 32-year-old midfielder showed scintillating form in his first Galaxy start on Wednesday, scoring from a free kick and creating a second goal, and wants to get at least 45 minutes of action at the Giants Stadium in New York.

"I did get a knock on my ankle which is slightly swollen but it feels great, a lot better than it did after the previous match," Beckham told reporters after masterminding the Galaxy's 2-0 win over D.C. United in a SuperLiga semi-final.

"Hopefully I will get a half a game or maybe more (on Saturday) but we will have to see how it reacts after travelling to New York."

Beckham, who was due to fly to New York on Thursday, faces a hectic schedule over the next eight days.

After Saturday's match, he will join his England team mates in London for a midweek friendly against Germany before returning to Los Angeles for an MLS encounter with Chivas USA the following day.

"Obviously it's going to be difficult travel-wise," Beckham said. "I go straight from New York, if my ankle is fine and I have played some minutes in New York, leaving Saturday night or Sunday and meet up with the (England) team on Monday.

"We play Wednesday and then I fly back (to Los Angeles) Thursday morning. I think I arrive at 12 o'clock and we've got a game that evening so hopefully I will be physically ready to play some part in that game as well."