When David Beckham suffered a torn Achilles\’ tendon in a Italian league game in mid-March, doctors gave him an outside chance of returning in time for the World Cup or at the very least part of the MLS season. Unfortunately, it doesn\’t look like either of these favorable scenarios will transpire. In a recent statement Beckham broke the news that his recovery is behind schedule and he won\’t be able to resume playing soccer until November at the earliest.

This timetable does leave open the possibility that he could return to action should the Los Angeles Galaxy make the MLS playoffs. As far as a potential return to England\’s national team the first realistic opportunity for Beckham to play would be in a European Championship qualifier against Wales in March 2011. He\’s been assured that he\’s welcome back at AC Milan in Italy\’s Serie A league whenever he\’s back in playing shape, though neither the team nor Beckham have indicated anything specific about his future with the team.

Beckham, who is still using crutches to get around, explained his recovery process:

\”I won\’t be running for another three months, so I will be playing again in, probably, November.\”

\”My mentality is to kind of push it and get moving and running and soon as possible. But it\’s an injury that has to take time to heal. It\’s frustrating. It\’s obviously disappointing because I\’ve been working for the last two years to get into the English squad [for the World Cup].\”

\”At the moment, it\’s just getting the motion back into the ankle, the tendon, because it\’s still repairing. I\’m trying to get mobilization back into the ankle.\”

Beckham also discussed the injury itself:

\”It was like being hit by a hockey puck. I thought someone was behind me and kicked me. Obviously no one was there and I saw my foot hanging and then I felt down there and there was a hole.\”

The former England captain would have likely served in a reserve capacity with the World Cup squad. Even without Beckham in the lineup and with lingering injury issues plaguing Manchester United superstar Wayne Rooney soccer betting enthusiasts are bullish on England\’s prospects this summer. The \’Three Lions\’ are currently the third favorite in World Cup future betting behind Brazil and Spain.