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Soccer super star David Beckham said on Tuesday that he was ready to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Wednesday's Super Liga semifinal.

"I think I can play at least half a game tomorrow, which is important to me," Beckham said in a statement released by the team.

"It's important for the team that I at least get on the pitch and help to contribute."

Beckham had missed five of the team's last six games because of an injured left ankle. Galaxy coach Frank Yallop said Beckham "is available to start and play a significant role tomorrow against D.C. United" in Los Angeles.

Beckham joined the Galaxy July 13 amid one of the greatest promotional buildups in American sports history. However, an ankle injury sustained June 6 while playing for England in a Euro 2008 qualifying game against Estonia limited him to about 16 minutes in his Galaxy debut July 21 and 21 minutes against D.C. United Thursday in Washington, his only appearances with the team.

Beckham's string of absences has prompted disappointment from fans in visiting cities and questions about the team's credibility.

General manager Alexi Lalas asked for patience.

"I know the people want to see David Beckham," Lalas told NBC4."He wants to be out there on the field. But he will be out there on the field when he is ready to play. It does us no good to have him out there to possibly re-injure the ankle and then he is no good to us for the rest of the season."

Beckham, the famed English star Galaxy management hopes will put it among the world's top-grossing soccer clubs, practiced with the team today for the first time. He previously received treatment for his injured ankle while his teammates were practicing.

"It was good to at least get out onto the field today and have a bit of practice," Beckham said.

Tomorrow night's game is part of the inaugural edition of Super Liga, a tournament involving four teams from Major League Soccer and four from Mexico's Primera Division. The tournament winner will receive 1 million US dollars.