Fulham defender Carlos Bocanegra says David Beckham has rescued MLS after joining LA Galaxy.

USA skipper Bocanegra joined Fulham from Chicago Fire in 2004 and knows the profile of MLS needed raising home and abroad.

"It is easy to follow the MLS now that it is on television all the time," said the Cottagers centre-back, who led the USA to victory in the Gold Cup in June.

"I still speak to some of the guys at Chicago and they are excited about playing him. Obviously the stadiums will be packed when he comes to play their team.

"The matches are often in big American football stadiums which have about 80,000 seats.

"But probably only 15,000 people turn up for the football matches, which makes it a terrible atmosphere.

"Beckham is filling up the stadiums and that is pretty cool. The guys are looking forward to seeing what all the buzz is about.

"He is not transforming the game in America but he is doing a great job for the MLS.

"He is creating interest when maybe even people in Alabama didn't even know we had a soccer league.

"He could have gone anywhere so I'm sure he's not doing it for financial reasons."