Beckham set to miss out again for United

England captain David Beckham is set to be omitted again by Manchester United as the champions take on Middlesbrough in the premier league on Saturday.

Beckham, said by manager Alex Ferguson to be resting a back injury, was on the substitutes' bench for each of United's last three games, including Wednesday's 5-0 thrashing of Derby County.

Some media reports said the England captain would not even be in the squad for the Middlesbrough game and that he was mystified by the decision to omit him.

Ferguson, though, rejected suggestions of a rift.

"David is great about what we are doing," Ferguson told the United website.

"He knows why we are doing this and I think he is glad about it to be honest with you. He knows himself that he has not been playing his best and he wants it sorted out as well.

"David's back is not exactly improving in the sense that back troubles tend to take a wee (little) while.

"Rest is the best thing for him. It's not long term but I think we are doing the right thing giving him the breather.

"He can rest the back and also have a rest himself generally. I think he's needed that."

Ferguson said Beckham's exertions with the national team, whom he has led to qualification for next year's World Cup, had finally taken their toll.

"There is no doubt that he reached a point where it all caught up with him," Ferguson said.

"The England games, in particular, took a lot out of him. He apparently ran 10 kilometres in the (decisive World Cup qualifying) game against Greece (on October 6) and he has never been the same since.

"His work rate has been absolutely phenomenal but eventually you have to pay for that.

"I think he's paying the price for it now. The most important thing to do was to address the problem and we have done that.

"It wasn't the easiest decision to leave David Beckham out of your team but we did it because we wanted him to get a proper rest and get rid of the injury.

"When he comes back he'll be fresh and we'll get the benefit of that out of him."

United, written off as title contenders after three successive defeats, can close to within six points of leaders Liverpool with a win at Middlesbrough on Saturday, when Ferguson will come face to face with his former assistant Steve McClaren, now 'Boro's manager.

Second-placed Arsenal, four points behind Liverpool, visit West Ham United in one of two London derbies on Saturday.

Fulham visit Tottenham Hotspur in the other, while fourth-placed Newcastle United's home game against Blackburn Rovers should be Saturday's other highlight.

Liverpool visit Chelsea on Sunday, when third-placed Leeds United, welcoming back midfielder Lee Bowyer after he was cleared by a court on Friday of charges relating to an attack on a student, also visit Leicester.

The first goal scored on Saturday will be the 10,000th in the premier league since it was set up in 1992.