Beckham out of England qualifiers

Beckham had his right knee bandaged after being substituted

David Beckham will miss England's Euro 2008 qualifiers in September after being diagnosed with a sprained knee.

The 32-year-old is expected to be out for six weeks, meaning he will not return until mid-October.

England entertain Israel at Wembley on Saturday 8 September and then host Russia four days later.

Beckham, who only recently recovered from an ankle injury, hurt his knee in LA Galaxy's Superliga final defeat to Pachuca on Wednesday.

The Galaxy lost the match to the Mexicans 4-3 on penalties.

After a scan on Thursday, the team said in a statement that Beckham had suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

It means Beckham faces a race to be fit in time for the culmination of the Galaxy's season.

Their last game of the regular season is on 21 October.

England boss Steve McClaren names his squad for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers on Friday.

Beckham joins Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney on the sidelines while Steven Gerrard is a doubt.