Nagging injury likely to delay Beckham’s debut with Galaxy

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – David Beckham’s long-awaited MLS debut will likely be delayed a bit.

Beckham is scheduled to make his first appearance for the Los Angeles Galaxy in an exhibition Saturday night against Chelsea. But a nagging left ankle injury will probably prevent him playing he said during halftime of the Major League Soccer All-Star game.

“I’m still having a lot of treatment. At the moment it doesn’t look good that I’m going to play because the swelling is still there,” Beckham said. “I’m here for five years. I’m not here just obviously for the game on Saturday.”

He left open a sliver of possibility that he’ll make an appearance, however.

“Maybe I’ll play some part toward the end of the game if it’s all right, but we’ll see,” he said.

Galaxy general manger Alexis Lalas is holding out hope for a quick recovery, too.

“We still anticipate that he’s going to play (Saturday night), to what extent we don’t know,” Lalas said. “We don’t want to do anything that’s going to jeopardize the long-term success and his health.”

American soccer fans might have to get used to Beckham’s limited availability.

Lalas advised the team’s fans that Beckham may miss some MLS games because of his obligation to England’s national team.