By ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LONDON (AP) -- David Beckham's hopes of joining a European club on loan during the Major League Soccer offseason appear to have been thwarted. The Los Angeles Galaxy said Monday that it expects the midfielder back with the team next month.
The 35-year-old Beckham said after an awards ceremony in England on Sunday that he hoped to play in Europe again during the winter to boost his chances of being recalled to England's national team.
While the former England captain has been allowed to spend the last two winters at AC Milan, the Galaxy are reluctant to send him out on loan again after he injured an Achilles' tendon while playing in Italy in March.
Having missed the first six months of the MLS season, Beckham had also previously said he was focused on returning to full fitness rather than seeking another loan move, but he now appears to have revived the prospect of a temporarily joining another club.
The Galaxy, though, expect Beckham to report back for preseason training as he enters the final season of his five-year $32.5 million contract with the team.
"We are not aware that David is looking to be loaned to any other team and we are fully expecting he reports with the rest of his Galaxy teammates in late January for the upcoming season," the Galaxy said Monday in a statement to The Associated Press.
Beckham appeared to suggest otherwise, although he is yet to identify a loan club.
"I won't be going back to AC Milan this time because is not possible to go onto the roster for such a short length of time," Beckham said in the English city of Birmingham. "But I will be going back somewhere as I want to keep myself fit and keep myself in with a chance of getting called up for England again. To do that, I have to be somewhere, so fingers crossed I can sort something out."
Beckham has made 115 appearances for England -- the most for an outfield player.
"My body feels great after my injury," Beckham said. "I always said I needed to get that back into order and keep my fitness and we will see."
Beckham said the only Premier League team he would consider playing for was Manchester United, which he left in 2003 to join Real Madrid.
"It is a great league and one of the most competitive in the world," Beckham said of England's top flight. "Maybe one day I will come back here but I have always said that it will only be for Manchester United. I am not holding my breath on that one, but we will have to wait and see."
Updated 12/21/10
