Fit-again David Beckham is no longer guaranteed his place in the Los Angeles Galaxy starting XI, according to head coach Frank Yallop.
A combination of knee and ankle injuries have kept the 32 year old on the sidelines as his team-mates set about salvaging their season with a six-game unbeaten run - winning the last five.
"I'm not going to just change the line-up with the people coming back from injury," he said.
"You can't do that with a team that's on a six-game unbeaten streak and has won five games in a row.
"For me it's a great message for people coming back that they have to work their way into the team. That's the correct way to have it."
Of Beckham's fitness, Yallop added: "He's not close to being 100%.
"We're not going to force him in there. It would be nice to get him on the field at some point because he's such a good player.
"He would be a pretty valuable substitute I would think if he's available for our team.
"I think he's going to be a little bit rusty obviously, not being in the squad, not training with the guys, but I think he's moving well.
"There's no doubt he can play, we know that. It's just the injuries and the movement. He looks like he's not hindered by anything at the moment."