Beckham out of Sociedad match with ankle injury

Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has ruled himself out of Saturday's Primera Liga match at Real Sociedad because of an ankle injury.

"I'm definitely out of the game," the England captain told reporters after training on Thursday. "I was running yesterday and it was fine, but today it was very painful."

Beckham received four stitches in his right ankle after clashing with Argentine defender Jose Luis Acciari during the Spanish league leaders' 1-0 win over Murcia at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

The wound then became infected, forcing him to miss Real's King's Cup third round, first leg match away to second division Eibar on Wednesday, which they drew 1-1.

"I didn't think I'd miss the game on Wednesday," he said. "Now I won't be able to play on Saturday either which is annoying."

"The stitches are still in and will probably come out on Monday or Tuesday and I won't be kicking a ball until maybe Sunday."

"I've been on antibiotics since I did it so that's cleared up the infection, it's just the muscle around it that is still sore."

The Sociedad match will be the fourth league game that Beckham has missed so far this season.

He dropped out of Real's final match of last year against Real Mallorca because of a thigh injury, a game which his side went on to win 3-1.