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LONDON - DAVID Beckham intends to be fit for next month's friendly international against Switzerland at Wembley and win his 100th cap in what will be Italian Fabio Capello's first match as England manager.
Beckham, now playing with Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy, hopes he will be in a position for his former Real Madrid manager to select him for the February encounter with the Swiss.
The former Manchester United midfielder has this week been training with Arsenal during the MLS off-season in a bid to make sure he regains full fitness after an injury-plagued first term in the United States.
'I'm there to get my fitness for the MLS season and also to try to get fit for the England game,' Beckham told Sky Sports at a dinner held in his honour here on Sunday by the Football Writers' Association.
'Even if it wasn't just for the 100th cap, for an England game I'd do the same. I want to be fit and be available for Mr Capello's first team and first game,' he added.
Beckham, returning to training after a five-week break, said he'd been pleased by the level of his general fitness after knee and ankle problems limited him to just five Galaxy appearances in his debut season with the west-coast side.
'It's a lot better than I thought it was,' said the 32-year-old. 'I feel great. I've had one day of training with the Arsenal team and three days of training with the fitness trainer.'
Arsenal are one of United's major rivals but, after years spent working under Sir Alex Ferguson, Beckham said he'd enjoyed his week in the company of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
'It's been great. I'm lucky that Arsene Wenger has given me the chance to train with the team,' said Beckham.
'It's nice to be with a Premier League team that is obviously so talented. The players have accepted me really well.'
Among those paying tribute to Beckham at the Royal Lancaster Gate Hotel were former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson and his successor, Steve McClaren. -- AFP
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