Beckham takes centre stage for Real

DAVID BECKHAM does not expect to command a central midfield role for Real Madrid despite a ringing endorsement yesterday from coach Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz hailed Beckham's "great game" as the England skipper dispelled any lingering doubts as to the credibility of his over-hyped £25 million move to the Spanish champions earlier this summer.

While Queiroz has long known what Beckham is capable of following their time together last season at Manchester United, the 27-year-old had still to prove himself to his new team-mates.

Against FC Tokyo in the second game of Real's money-spinning Far East tour, Beckham duly obliged by scoring the opener in a 3-0 victory with a superb trademark free-kick.

The goal was the crowning glory of a commanding central midfield performance from Beckham as he primarily controlled the pace of the game.

But with Zinedine Zidane looking on from the bench, and although Luis Figo was switched to the wing, Beckham is aware there is strong competition for the pivotal role in the Real side.

"I really enjoyed the game today and I had the luck to score," Beckham said afterwards.

"It was a good goal and I'm pleased to have done it in my second game for Real. After 10 days with the team, it's a reward for all the hard work.

"Switching to the centre of midfield was a good move, particularly because Tokyo pushed through the middle. I felt more involved in the game.

"But although I really enjoyed playing in the middle, it does not mean I am going to do it in the next few matches."

Queiroz was certainly delighted with Beckham's display as he declared: "He has done what we expected from him.

"In the two games he has played in four positions and he has played very well. Today he played a great game, especially in the middle."

Beckham's 72-minute debut on Sunday in a 4-0 victory over the Chinese Dragons was nothing more than tidy and efficient as Real comfortably kicked off their Asian adventure.

Yet in front of a rain-drenched, full-house 48,000 crowd at the National Stadium, Beckham stepped up to the plate and delivered as only he knows how.

His sweet, 37th-minute right-foot curler from the left-hand edge of the area was bent beautifully beyond a three-man wall and goalkeeper Yoichi Doi, and so heralded his arrival in the Real team.

It at least overshadowed his opening noteworthy moment when he picked up the only booking of the game in the 10th minute for a clipped challenge on Masashi Miyazawa.

Following that, though, Beckham was a pivotal figure in a number of Real Madrid's key attacking moments and after he struck, his new team flowed in the closing stages of the opening half.

They were rewarded with their second goal just before the interval when Solari slotted home after Doi could only parry a Portillo drive.

Surprisingly, the Primera Liga champions failed to add to their tally until the closing moments, with another Far Eastern hero in Ronaldo enhancing his icon-like status with a stunning right-footed finish to complete an easy win.

Beckham, looking more assured as the game wore on, could have added to his own personal tally as a surging run into the area raised the crowd's expectancy, only for an attempted chip with his 'weaker' left foot lacking the height to trouble Doi. In the end, in completing the 90 minutes and with his first goal scored, Beckham will at least have gained a degree of respect from any sceptical team-mates.