- The Observer, Sunday April 14 2002
The England captain has been offered a super-fast method of healing which would ensure that the broken second metatarsal bone in his left foot, which is expected to keep him out of action for six weeks, mends far more quickly.
Micro-current therapy, which uses electric currents one-millionth of the power of a torch battery, has helped sportspeople - including some of Beckham's Manchester United team-mates - return from injury much sooner than predicted.
Sports medicine specialist Dr David Chapman-Jones, of Canterbury Christ Church University College, says that the treatment would shorten Beckham's recovery period by several weeks and thus guarantee he is fit to head England's challenge for the World Cup, which starts in Japan on 31 May.
Micro-current therapy stimulates cell growth, which in turn helps muscles to grow much more rapidly. Rebuilding lower left leg muscle wasted by weeks in plaster will be crucial to Beckham's chances. 'Normally that would take six weeks, but micro-current reduces that to two or three,' said the doctor.
Beckham's left foot has been in plaster since he was injured in a tackle by Argentine midfielder Aldo Duschler of Spain's Deportivo La Coruña last Wednesday.
If Beckham opts for the therapy, he will use a small machine called Micro Doctor, resembling a CD player, to administer the doses of electricity to his damaged foot for half an hour twice daily.
'Micro-therapy could help Beckham by shortening his rehabilitation and I hope he will try this,' said Chapman-Jones, who contacted the England skipper through a mutual friend. 'It gives you extra time, which is just what he needs right now.'
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