Last-place Galaxy can't afford another Beckham injury

The Los Angeles Galaxy are looking at another extended spell without David Beckham, seen here 29 August 2007, after the midfielder learned he has a sprained right knee.

The Los Angeles Galaxy are looking at another extended spell without David Beckham after the midfielder learned he has a sprained right knee.

The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that 32-year-old Beckham could miss up to six weeks which would rule him out of all but three of the Galaxy's final regular season Major Soccer League games.

Team doctor Ron Kvitne diagnosed Beckham, who reported to the Galaxy with a swollen left ankle, with a sprained medial ligament.

The last place Galaxy (three wins, 10 losses, five draws) are in the midst of the worst season in franchise history, winning just one of the six contests Beckham has appeared in.

In his first MLS season, the former England skipper has played just 310 minutes for Los Angeles at a annual salary of 6.5 million dollars since he arrived as a North American football saviour in mid-July.

"It's just gone from one thing to another thing. Maybe it's time for me to just say I need the rest and get it right and don't come back until it's right," Beckham told the Los Angeles Daily News.

But since Beckham's introduction, the Galaxy's merchandise sales have sky-rocketed 700 percent.

Beckham left Real Madrid for a contract worth a potential 250 million dollars over five years in endorsements and other promotion sales and has provided a marketing boost for a US league in need of something to lure supporters.

Beckham missed seven of the Galaxy's first 13 games with the ankle injury he suffered in his final match with Real Madrid.

The Galaxy have also scheduled planned exhibition matches in Vancouver, Canada and Australia. Vancouver fans purchased 45,000 tickets in advance for the October 3 game which organizers are now considering postponing.