David Beckham says he won't be able to play soccer until November

David Beckham said Monday that his recovery from an Achilles injury is taking longer than expected and that he won't be able to play soccer again until November.

That would prevent him from playing at all for the Galaxy during the regular season, which ends in late October. Last season Beckham helped the Galaxy get to within a kick of the MLS championship.

Beckham ruptured a tendon in March while on loan to AC Milan. He underwent surgery and initially expected to be back by September.

"I won't be running for another three months, so I will be playing again in, probably, November," Beckham said in an interview posted on ABC television's website.

The injury also prevented Beckham from pursuing his dream of competing in a fourth World Cup with England.

"My mentality is to kind of push it and get moving and running as soon as possible. But it's an injury that has to take time to heal," Beckham said in a separate TV interview. "... It's frustrating. It's obviously disappointing because, you know, I've been working for the last couple of years to try and get myself into the English squad" for the World Cup.

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: David Beckham watches the Lakers-Thunder game last Tuesday. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Associated Press