Beckham likely to shake off groin injury

England captain, David Beckham is likely to shake off a groin injury and declare himself fit for this Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier in Macedonia.

Beckham suffered the injury playing for club side Real Madrid on Tuesday, however the former Man Utd player underwent a light training session on his own after arriving at the England training camp in Manchester slightly later than planned.

The news will please Enland manager Sven Goran Eriksson who has seen Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Darius Vassell, Jonathan Woodgate and Trevor Sinclair drop out through injury.

Wales, meanwhile, could be without striker Craig Bellamy for their vital away tie against Italy, if the player's club side have their way.

Newcastle have been without the Welshman for the last three games following a knee ligament injury. While an independent specialist declared the player fit in a recent examination, Newcastle believe Saturday's game could aggravate the problem further.

Bellamy sustained the injury playing for Wales in the 1-0 defeat by Serbia and Montenegro last month.

In the other internationals this weekend, Scotland are waiting to hear whether captain Paul Lambert will be fit for their home game against the Faroe Islands.

The Celtic midfielder injured his ankle and will face a final fitness test on Saturday morning.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland are looking to break their goal scoring duck away to Ukraine in Donetsk.

Sammy McIlroy's side have failed to score in 972 minutes of competitive football, however they will go into Saturday's game buoyed by the recent 0-0 draw at home to Spain despite fielding a team with an average age of 23.

McIlroy will welcome back winger, Michael Hughes who has just returned from a year in the footballing wilderness following a transfer wrangle between Wimbledon and Birmingham.

(MB)