‘Injuries to key players a big blow to England’

Neville has been ruled out after breaking a bone in his foot while mid-fielders Dyer (knee) and Gerrard (groin) are both expected to miss out on the finals after scans this week. “We’ve got such an upbeat squad that hopefully there’ll be more ups than downs…The French squad are missing (Robert) Pires and other teams will also be missing players. You have to get over things,” Beckham said.

Beckham, who will miss good friend Neville as a confidant, said the probable loss of Gerrard, who is due to see a surgeon by Tuesday, was a particularly bad setback. “It’s a blow because when he has played for England we have played some of our best football, even in friendlies. Against Mexico, we played some great football and he was a big part of that, and over in Germany he was immense,” Beckham said, referring to the 4-0 win over the South Americans and the historic 5-1 victory in Munich during World Cup qualifying.

“I’ll show as much leadership as I can to the players, but as I say, we’re a strong bunch and we’ll get over the problems,” Beckham told reporters before England headed for a five-day stopover in Dubai on their way to South Korea and Japan.

“The players are not down at all, they’re really excited by going over to Dubai for starters and then starting the finals,” he added. Beckham himself is concentrating on getting fit for England’s opening Group F game against Sweden on June 2.

Asked about his foot, Beckham said: “It’s good. I ran for the first time on Saturday morning and it was a bit sore afterwards. But it’s a good sign that I’m running already — five weeks on.

“In a week and a half, I’ll kick my first ball. It’s literally fitness now … I’ve been out five weeks and I’ve put on a little weight but it won’t be a problem getting it off.”

The Manchester United mid-fielder is not planning to turn out for either of England’s two remaining friendlies against South Korea, on May 21, or Cameroon five days later.

“I’m just aiming for the first (group) game, because obviously I can get my fitness up in ways other than playing in a game…if I come back early there’s a chance it will crack again, and that’s why I am taking my time.” Looking ahead to their World Cup opener at Saitama, he said: “We need to get off to a good start against Sweden.(Reuters)