Beckham Right to Hunt Down Loan

David Beckham is right to hunt down first-team football with AC Milan with the MLS season coming to an end on Sunday.

The 33-year-old England midfielder is on the verge of a short-term loan to the Serie A giants in a move which can only benefit Beckham, England, and Milan. But Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena has questioned the wisdom of loaning out Beckham with the MLS season set to start again in late March.

“On the surface, it sounds like an odd proposition,” said Arena. “I don't see how it benefits the Galaxy or Major League Soccer as a whole. I also don't know if any of this is true.

“I think that given the position the Galaxy are in and the fact we are trying to rebuild a successful squad, it would be strange for us to loan out our top players—that would be a strange way to operate.”

Beckham, who has set his sights on securing a place in Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup in 2010, is desperate to show Capello he can still cut the mustard with Europe's best.

The former Manchester United star can still be a valuable asset to a club of Milan's proportions and his willingness to work through America's off-season will undoubtedly please Capello.

Capello has used Beckham as a late substitute in England's last four World Cup qualifiers and the former Real Madrid schemer is determined to stay in the plans of the England boss with spring qualifiers looming.

Beckham, who is under contract with the LA Galaxy until 2012, is likely to be loaned for two or three months and AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: "We are speaking with his agent but we believe he will arrive for some months on a free loan."

It is undoubtedly a terrific move for Beckham and if I was a football betting man, one which will allow Beckham to concrete a place in Capello's thoughts for South Africa 2010.

Forget Arena—he will just have to get used to it.