Press claim Becks is out

The Manchester United midfielder is making progress in his bid to recover from a broken foot, sustained against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League.

Sven Goran Eriksson has already lost the services of Steven Gerrard and Danny Murphy, and there are still doubts over Kieron Dyer.

However, the loss of his inspirational captain would eclipse the other absences.

For all of the Sunday newspapers' pessimism, Beckham did embark on some light, tentative training on the pitch before the match with Cameroon.

Yet he did look a little unsure of himself, and the prospects of him leading the team out against Sweden next weekend do look to be receding.

Eriksson has intimated that, if Beckham cannot be fit in time for the Argentina clash, he will be withdrawn from the squad.

Of course, there is also the theory that anything the London-born star does is major news, and he always sells newspapers.

The whole of the nation will be hoping the reports are merely speculative and shocking, rather than substantiated.

Indeed, Beckham affirmed on Sunday that he is on schedule with regards to his comeback and, although adding he has his fingers crossed, is still targeting a return in the Sweden encounter.