Becks: why I’ll be glad to be re-united with Alex

DAVID BECKHAM has revealed his deep debt of gratitude to Sir Alex Ferguson despite recent rifts and insists he will happily shake the Manchester United manager’s hand when England visit Old Trafford for next Wednesday’s Euro 2004 qualifier with Liechtenstein.

The England captain, who insists he is fit enough after his slight groin problem to lead his country in Saturday’s qualifier in Macedonia, has been critical of Ferguson in the serialisation of his forthcoming autobiography.

The dressing room incident which left Beckham with an eye injury and his demotion to the bench for the Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid last season have been highlighted as indications of a deteriorating relationship with Ferguson.