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HELSINKI : Former England captain David Beckham said on Tuesday that an operation to fix his ruptured Achilles tendon had been a "success" and that he was focused on "getting back to full fitness."
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their messages of support, they mean a lot to me," read a statement on the 34-year-old's official website.
"The operation was a success and I'd like to thank Dr Orava and all the medical staff who looked after me during my time in Finland.
"I'm feeling positive and now concentrating on getting back to full fitness over the coming months."
Earlier, Beckham's orthopaedic surgeon Sakari Orava told AFP that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United man would be quickly back on his feet.
"The patient is doing well and is in good spirits," Orava said by telephone. "Today (Tuesday), we will practice walking with crutches."
Beckham twisted his left ankle during the final minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 Serie A win against Chievo on Sunday and limped off the field before being stretchered away in pain and in tears.
The on-loan LA Galaxy midfielder flew to the western Finnish city of Turku in a private plane on Monday for an operation at the sports injury clinic of Mehilaeinen hospital.
Finnish media reported that Beckham's wife, Victoria Beckham, arrived in Turku to visit her husband on Tuesday.
The former Spice Girl reached Turku airport just after 1700 local time (1500GMT) and took a car towards the centre of the city, according to Finnish news agency STT.
Orava said Beckham's leg would be in a cast for three-to-four months and in a support for around the same length of time.
"Talk of training and playing is pure speculation," Orava said.
After the surgery on Monday night Orava said there was "no chance" Beckham would recover in time to play for England at the World Cup, which kicks off in South Africa on June 11.
Beckham will stay in Finland until Wednesday before flying home to Los Angeles, likely through England, Orava said.
"I recommended him not to get on a long flight to fly across the Atlantic straight away," Orava said, adding this was advice he gave all his patients after such surgery.
- AFP /ls
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