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Injury aches stay with Beckham

© Reuters 2002

LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Manchester United midfielder David Beckham says it will be months before he fully overcomes the effects of a broken foot which nearly ruled him out of the World Cup.

Beckham, who suffered the injury on Champions League duty for United in April, also defended his decision to go to the finals, where England reached the last eight before bowing out to eventual champions Brazil. "Going to the World Cup was the right decision," he told the United website on the eve of Wednesday's Champions League qualifier in Hungary against Zalaegerszeg.

"But I still get aches in my foot, they will take months to go away - but it's not restricting." Beckham also believes his side will bounce back from last season's disappointments after ending their campaign third in the table and with no silverware on show.

"Our desire is still there - we finished without a trophy last season so our hunger is there," Beckham said. "It gets stronger every year, and we were very disappointed last year. We all talk about last season, but it's last season. We forget about it and move on."

United face the Hungarians for the first leg of their third qualifying round clash, with the second leg at Old Trafford in a fortnight's time. Uniqted, the runaway favourites, would then qualify for the group phase of a competition they won in 1999.

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