Beckham to start training at Spurs

David Beckham will train with Tottenham's first-team squad for the first time on Tuesday after completing a series of medical tests at the club's training ground.

Beckham underwent several fitness tests on Monday and met the club's medical staff at the training complex in Chigwell, Essex, and sported a Tottenham tracksuit as he left the building.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder will begin a four-week training schedule with the north Londoners as he looks to maintain his fitness during the MLS close season and prove to Fabio Capello that he deserves an England recall.

While the sight of Beckham in club apparel may have raised Tottenham fans' hopes of seeing the star play for the club, negotiations over a loan deal for him have so far failed.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp claimed a deal looked like a "no-goer" on Sunday morning, but appeared to go back on that statement by insisting that a loan "could still happen" after watching his side beat Charlton 3-0 to earn an FA Cup fourth round tie at Fulham.

It is believed Spurs are unwilling to pay the percentage of Beckham's wages the Galaxy are demanding but both parties still could come to an agreement for the 35-year-old, who last turned out for an English club in Manchester United's final match of the 2002-03 season.

Beckham smiled and waved to the cameras as they caught glimpses of the former Real Madrid man during his six-hour stay at the Chigwell complex, which was broken up by an hour's worth of tests at a local hospital.

He did not speak to the masses of camera crews and photographers who had assembled to meet him, but Spurs coach Tim Sherwood briefly stopped to tell reporters he had spoken to Beckham and that he was in favour of the star joining the club on loan.

"He's a great ambassador for the country. Good luck to him," Sherwood said.

"He's welcome to come and train with the club. If he eventually starts to play for us then that would be good. It's a complex situation."