In pictures: Beckham training

David Beckham trained alone yesterday, but that is not because the Los Angeles Galaxy new boy has been ostracised. The England international was simply working with a physio as he attempts to recover in time from strained ankle ligaments to make his eagerly awaited debut in a friendly match against Chelsea on Saturday.

Beckham’s people insist that he will not risk a serious injury, but the pressure on him to play some part is intense. His new employers have attracted a global television audience and ESPN, which will screen the game across the United States, has 16 cameras, including the Beck-cam, to follow the arrival of MLS’s new star.

"He's not done too much the last two days," admitted Frank Yallop, the Galaxy head coach. "His ankle is quite swollen but we hope it recovers quickly and he can have some part in Saturday's game. Obviously we want to get him on the field as quickly as we can but we don't want to put him in danger of re-injuring himself.

"The injury has responded in the last few days. It was a long flight and it swelled up pretty bad and today he was not as comfortable as he should have been. But it's an injury that will quickly heal up as he hasn't got any structural damage. Each day it gets better and better so we're hoping that it's going to clear up by the end of the week and he can participate."

Beckham is likely to play some part to satisfy the fans, several thousand of whom turned up at the Home Depot Centre yesterday to see him go through a series of strengthening exercises. The challenge for the Galaxy hierarchy is to keep his profile high and the broadcasting on NBC last night of Victoria Beckham: Coming To America will have gone some way to helping that. The club have also announced plans for a series of friendlies that will take Beckham to Asia, Australia and, probably, Stamford Bridge.

A more pressing requirement is to start climbing the MLS Western division standings. Yallop will be under mounting pressure to improve a record of three wins in 12 matches and Fabio Capello, Beckham’s former coach at Real Madrid, revealed yesterday that he had been offered opportunities to work in the US.