David Beckham's future at LA Galaxy is again in sharp focus after his axing from the England squad. With AC Milan pressing to make Beckham's two month loan a permanent move, England's former captain may be on his way back to Europe in a bid to preserve his goal of playing at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, says the Daily Mail.

Beckham, told by Capello's assistants on Friday that he had been dropped, is said to have been shocked by his omission, as England's manager had previously indicated that he would give him his 108th cap in the friendly against Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

Capello changed his mind after LA Galaxy failed to make the play-off stages of Major League Soccer, meaning that Beckham has not played football for three weeks. Capello said: "This is my system. If you are fit and you are playing, it's possible to be in the squad. He played his last game three weeks ago. If he had played in the [MLS] play-offs, it would have been OK."

As well as his footballing disappointments, Beckham has also suffered the loss of trusted advisor and friend, Terry Byrne, who has quit his role to return to Britain.

And sources close to Beckham have reported that while his Soccer Academy at Greenwich, in London, is thriving, the Los Angeles franchise has been less successful.