Beckham's injury

Watch BBC sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar and UK Athletics podiatrist Scott Kingston answer your e-mails on David Beckham's injury.

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Beckham broke the second metatarsal bone in his right foot in Manchester United's Champions League clash with Deportivo La Coruna and could miss the World Cup.

Scott Kingston, of UK Athletics, joined us to explain Beckham's foot injury and talk through his estimated recovery time.

And BBC Sports News correspondent Gordon Farquhar discussed the implications for both England and United.

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Chris Hollins: First of all Scott, how serious is this injury?

Scott Kingston: Any fracture is serious for a footballer - especially in his foot. It's the second metatarsal that he's actually fractured, and like any bone, that will take time to heal. It will be a period of four to six weeks - perhaps even longer - before that heals.

CH: Gordon, how serious is it to England's chances?

Gordon Farqhar: This is the great debate, and my instinct is that without Beckham, England are not the team that they are with him.

It's probably not a fatal blow to their chances, but the World Cup is the most difficult competition to win in football and you need all the cards you can get hold of. Without Beckham, England are a bit short.

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Peter, Oxford

I cannot believe the half-baked fools who think just because one player is injured England have no chance in the World Cup. Beckham is a great captain and an inspiration, but we have other world-class players too.

GH: We do have other world-class players - Steven Gerrard is absolutely fantastic, and Paul Scholes is a superb talent. Everyone is talking about Kieron Dyer being a possible replacement, and he may well benefit from Beckham's absence - although a lot of people think he should be there on merit anyway.

There are world-class players throughout that side, but it is not one made up exclusively of world-class players. We're certainly not in the same position as the French, for example, who have awesome talent throughout their team.

It's also true to say that one player does not make an entire team, but he can make a difference from those dead-ball situations where, as we saw against Greece, he has got the bottle and the calm to make a huge difference. I think he will be missed for that more than anything else.

Do England have anyone else that, with a minute to go, can step up and bury the ball in the back of net from a dead-ball like Beckham? I think that's the X-factor, and I think it will make a difference.

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Andy, UK

France have lost Pires (one of their great players) but you don't hear people saying their World Cup chances are dead. England, I'm afraid, don't have the quality in depth to cover Beckham's loss.

CH: That's certainly true in Beckham's case, and on the left of midfield. They're desperately looking at their options there, and I believe that Trevor Sinclair is being considered at the moment. That's problem - they don't have that depth.

GF: That's true, although I would suggest Blackburn's David Dunn as a possibility there. But the fundamental point is that the French have quality in every area of the field. They're an immensely strong team, and would be my tip to win the World Cup.

The difficulty for England is that they rely so much on Beckham's inspiration. He's completely re-invented himself since being sent of in St Etienne in 1998. Fans were hanging effigies of Beckham outside a pub in London after that match, but now the support for him among England supporters is unbelievable.

He is their talisman, and there is no doubt that he will be badly missed. As an England supporter and an observer of the game, you've just got hope that when it comes to it, the other players will rise to the occasion.

Some players may now see this as an opportunity to make an impact on the world stage. There will be millions of television viewers worldwide, and maybe that will bring out the best in them.

CH: Scott, do you think that Beckham's injury can in any way be blamed on him having played too may games?

SK: I don't think it was caused by constant stress, simply by an awful tackle. The players are top-class athletes and are fitter than ever before, but you simply cannot legislate for a tackle like that.

CH: Let's talk about the risk factor now. Let's say that I'm Sven-Goran Eriksson, I'm thinking that Michael Own is struggling and David Beckham is now a major doubt.

Scott, I come to you for advice. How much of a risk is it going to be to take David Beckham to the World Cup finals?

SK: If we look at the best case scenario, which that the bone has taken bout six weeks to heal, Beckham is back in training and has managed to keep some of his cardio-vascular fitness.

He might miss the first few games, but to be able to bring him on would be a great boost for the team. It's too early to say at the moment, but if it is a straightforward fracture, then there is a chance that he can be taken to the World Cup.

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Samantha Knowles, Solihull

There are many conflicting stories about how long it will take for Beckham's foot to mend: is there anything he can do to speed his recovery and how does he keep fit in the meantime?

SK: At the moment the main thing is for him to rest the foot and allow it to settle down - that's why he was put straight into a cast. The danger comes when the foot is rested for two long, because muscles around the area can tend to weaken.

They're fortunate in that they can clearly assess how quickly the bone is healing through various scans and X-rays. In the mean time he can be doing other cardio vascular work to maintain his fitness.

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Pete Charlesworth, UK

When recovery is put at a certain period like six weeks, does that mean the foot will be able to sustain the same pressure and forces as before the break? Is it likely that Beckham will suffer any psychological effects?

SK: I would hope not, and once the bone has healed there won't necessarily be a point of weakness there. It's likely to be a bit uncomfortable, even after the bone has healed, but he should be able to play through that.

CH: Gordon, did you notice any difference in Beckham in the second leg after the knock he picked up in the first match?

GF: I don't think so - I think he's a very committed player. You might think that some players are looking ahead to the World Cup and trying to avoid heavy tackles, but these guys are totally committed.

If anyone pulled out of any tackle their team-mates would give them stick and their manager would spot it as well. In general the players give their all once they're out there, and it's largely because they're so competitive that they get to the top.

CH: But players and athletes in general, must have some sort of psychological barrier to get over.

SK: I think once the injury has healed and they're out there on the pitch, their main concern is playing the game, and playing to win.

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Bruno, UK

Even if Beckham does recover in time for the World Cup, he'll be ring-rusty and in no shape to lead England to glory. Also, what psychological effects will he have from his injury?

MK: He won't be fully match-fit, but from set-pieces he can still be lethal. If he comes on and puts just one of those away he'll have done his job.

CH: Looking back through the records, Kevin Keegan, the David Beckham of his day, was struggling to be fit for the world Cup finals in 1982. The manager took a risk with him, and he was never quite right. Do you think that has an effect on the rest of the squad?

GF: I think it's a mistake to put players out who are not fully fit because a coach feels that the team can't do without them. I think you should always pick your fittest XI - if you have players like Beckham who are not fully fit they usually underachieve.

Once they're on, the coach will often back his judgment and keep them on. I think it would be a mistake to start with Beckham if he's not fully fit, but it's another thing him on with 15 minutes to go.

Fundamentally, an unfit player shouldn't start a game, because it does tend to backfire.

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Sean Hughes, England

Should Beckham not make it to the finals, who will captain England?

GF: There's plenty of choice, because there's no obvious alternative candidate.

I guess you'd go for somebody who's likely to start every game, and I suppose you'd be tempted to go for Sol Campbell, who was certainly a favourite of Glenn Hoddle for the captain's armband.

David Seaman is another possibility, but there's no guarantee that he'll start every game, and I also think that players prefer to have an outfield player as captain.

CH: If I were a Premiership manager, what advice would I give to my players? Is it to be totally committed?

SK: At that level, the players will always be committed in every game, and they're at more risk of injury if they pull out of a tackle than if they go in to it wholeheartedly.