Players face up to Beckham blow

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored twice against Deportivo

David Beckham's team-mates have admitted that the midfielder's injury is a "massive blow" for Manchester United.

Beckham suffered a broken metatarsal bone during the 3-2 victory against Deportivo La Coruna at Old Trafford which will sideline him for up to eight weeks.

The injury means Beckham will miss Manchester United's Premiership and Champions League title run-ins.

It's a massive blow because he has maybe been our best player

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

United won the match against Deportivo thanks to two trademark finishes from substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and a sublime individual goal from Ryan Giggs.

But Solskjaer, who replaced the England skipper in Wednesday's game, claims Beckham's injury took the shine off his goals and the win, which earned United a semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen.

"I was delighted with the goals, but really disappointed for Becks, for England and for United," he said.

"It's a massive blow because he has maybe been our best player.

Beckham is helped from the pitch

"He has been scoring goals and making goals for everyone else. I hope he heals quickly.

"You can say we can win it for him, but we still have two hard matches against Leverkusen."

Solskjaer's strike partner, Ruud van Nistelrooy, also sympathised with Beckham.

Van Nistelrooy knows what it is like to miss a big tournament through injury after sitting out the Euro 2000 finals with Holland when he damaged his cruciate ligaments.

He said: "It's a shame for David Beckham and I hope he is well soon.

Everyone has their fingers crossed that he makes it because he is a major player

West Ham and England midfielder Joe Cole

"It's a great disappointment for our team and I hope he is fine soon."

Beckham's England team-mate Gareth Southgate said he was hopeful that the star would be fit in time for the World Cup.

"Fingers crossed that it isn't serious, both for the team, but more importantly on a personal level, for him," he said.

"With him being captain, it would be a tremendous honour for him to lead his country in a World Cup, and I sincerely hope that he can play some part even before we get to the World Cup.

"I have every confidence that he could be there with us."

There is every chance he will be available because the medical facilities at Manchester United are excellent

West Ham and England goalkeeper David James

Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier said Beckham's injury presented a problem for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who must name his squad by May 21.

"It's a matter for the England coach to decide his strategy but clearly he will hope that he doesn't have to take a risk on any player's fitness," Crozier said.

"Obviously we have a worry about the World Cup but we are hopeful that it can all be sorted out.

"If at all possible, you would want a player like David Beckham with you."

The World Cup starts on May 31 and England play their first group match against Sweden on June 2.