Sven-Goran Eriksson will place his trust in David Beckham not to risk his World Cup fitness by making a hasty comeback for Manchester United in the Champions League final.
Beckham's father, Ted, has revealed that the England captain still believes he has a chance of playing in the final if United qualify.
"David thinks he now has a real chance of making the Champions League final if they get there," he declared. "It will be touch and go, but David thinks he can make it and he will definitely be fit for the World Cup, I'm sure."
The final at Hampden Park on May 15th would come just five weeks after Beckham broke a metatarsal bone in his left foot, with a projected recuperation period of six to eight weeks.
His father told the Sunday Peoplethat the midfielder was "making good progress and things are looking good". However, returning to face Real Madrid, or possibly Barcelona, in the final if United manage to come back from drawing the first leg 2-2 against Bayer Leverkusen, would still represent a miracle recovery.
Eriksson is confident Beckham will be fit for England's opening World Cup game against Sweden on June 2nd. That is a far more realistic scenario after a possible substitute's role in the final warm-up game against Cameroon.
"I expect David Beckham to be fit for the World Cup. When I say that, I say it with my heart, not with my head as I have no idea, but I am very optimistic," said Eriksson earlier this week.
However, the Swede made it abundantly clear soon after Beckham sustained his injury against Deportivo La Coruna that he was not worried about the midfielder unwisely rushing his comeback.
"I think that David is honest and normally you feel whether you can play or not as a player," insisted the England coach at the time. If Beckham should declare himself fit to play at Hampden Park, Eriksson is happy to trust in the judgment of the United medical staff, who are overseeing the midfielder's treatment.
After all, he has also already insisted there is no chance that United would take a risk on a player's fitness in any Champions League final. "When a bone is healed, it is healed and that's it," added Eriksson.
PA