Supermarket adds bandage to Beckham gingerbread man

The injury to David Beckham’s foot has led a British supermarket chain to redesign its new England footballer gingerbread man with an added bandage.

Safeway said it was days away from launching the World Cup theme biscuit, but decided to postpone it while the nation waited to see if he recovered.

The company is preparing itself for the worst and baking batches with icing for a bandage over the ankle and foot.

The gingerbread men, with white shirt and dark blue shorts, were due to go on sale early until Aldo Dusher’s reckless tackle on Beckham in Manchester United’s game against Deportivo La Coruna.

A Safeway spokesman said: ‘‘We were days away from launching our World Cup gingerbread man when this national tragedy occurred.

‘‘We didn’t think our customers would want us to bring out a fully fit gingerbread man when our captain, the man on whose shoulders all our hopes rest, is in plaster.

‘‘So we have designed a new version in case he is not fit for the start of the tournament in June.’’

He explained they if, come the Sweden game, Beckham cannot play, it will stock the bandaged gingerbread men. On the other hand, if he recovers, the original will go on sale.