David Beckham vows he will not repeat his injury-filled 2007 debut season

David Beckham has vowed to U.S. fans that there will not be a repeat of his injury-filled 2007 debut season with the LA Galaxy.
"This is the best shape I've been in for a year now," Beckham said as he trained with Galaxy teammates for the first time in 2008.

Becks added: "The whole last season I was not 100 percent fit. Physically I feel great now."

Football ace Becks - who found out last week he has been dropped from the England side - missed twice as many games as he played by the time the U.S. Major League Season ended last October.

He played just eight games for the Galaxy in various competitions, scoring one goal.

After signing his record-breaking five-year contract in January 2007 - that could bring him as much as $250USD million - Beckham joined the Galaxy July 13 following the end of his contract with Real Madrid.

Beckham made his debut with the Galaxy July 21 playing the final 12 minutes of a 1-0 loss in a pre-season friendly with Chelsea.

The former England captain's ankle injury sustained on June 6 while playing for in the Euro 2008 qualifying game against Estonia forced him to miss five of the next six games disappointing U.S. fans

Adding to the disappointment, Beckham sustained a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the August SuperLiga final against the Mexican team Pachuca and the team missed the MLS playoffs for the second consecutive season.

In the season break the Galaxy changed coaches.

Dutch soccer ace Ruud Gullit has taken the place of former coach Frank Yallop, who was released from his contract.

The Galaxy will begin the 2008 season against Gamba Osaka of Japan's J-League on February 20 in the Pan-Pacific Championship in Honolulu.

The Galaxy begin their MLS campaign on March 29 at Colorado and play their home opener April 3 against San Jose.

"We have to win something," Beckham said.

"We can't sit back and let happen what happened last season. As long as we start well and win our games, we've got every chance."

By Owen Williams, Feb 05 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy