Beckham to join England squad for Dubai trip

David Beckham is set to travel with the rest of the England squad to the team's preparation camp in Dubai before the World Cup finals starting on May 31.

The England captain, who is still recovering from a broken bone in his foot, was doubtful for the week long trip, with newspapers suggesting his club manager, Manchester United's Alex Ferguson, wanted to keep him back until he was fully fit.

"He is definitely going with the rest of the squad," Paul Newman, spokesman for the Football Association, told Reuters on Saturday.

"There was no dispute with Manchester United as far as we are concerned."

The England squad depart for Dubai on Monday before heading off to South Korea, which is co-hosting the finals with Japan, on Friday.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side play their two last warm-up games, against South Korea on May 21 and Cameroon on May 26, before their first group match of the finals against Sweden on June 2.

Beckham suffered his injury in United's Champions League quarter-final first leg clash against Deportivo Coruna last month.

Newman confirmed Beckham's United team mate Nicky Butt, who is out for up to two weeks with a knee injury, would also travel to Dubai.

Manchester United said they expected Beckham to sign a new long-term contract with United "very soon".