Beckham reiterates England hopes

4th December 2008

David Beckham reiterated his desire to continue playing for England prompted his forthcoming loan switch to AC Milan after arriving in New Zealand for the Los Angeles Galaxy's exhibition clash with an Oceania All-Stars side.

The 33-year-old, who made the journey to New Zealand with the Galaxy for the second successive year, will join the Italian side in January on a two-month deal prior to returning to California in March for the start of the Major League Soccer season.

Beckham was not named in the England squad for last month's friendly in Germany, but he hopes to return to the international fold in the planned fixture with Spain in February and said: "It's important that I keep my fitness up and that's one of the reasons I'm going to Milan for a few months."

He added: "I take each game as it comes. If I carry on to the World Cup, then great but I'm enjoying the qualifiers at the moment and enjoying the way the team are playing and the way they are bonding together."

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, who is England's third most capped player behind Peter Shilton and Bobby Moore, said he is aware that he is in the 'mature' stage of his career and said it is time to start thinking of the kind of person he wants to be remembered as.

"I've always wanted to be known as a hard worker on the field and successful," he said.

"I believe I've always worked hard in every game and every training session that I take part in."