Beckham sees Robinho as big star in the making

Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has praised the return to form of team mate Robinho, saying the Brazilian forward has a great future.

"It's important to see Robinho doing well because when he first arrived here everyone was questioning whether he would make it or not," the England captain told sports daily Marca on Wednesday.

"But playing as he is at present you can see he is going to be a great football player."

"He is enormously skilful. He just needed a little confidence to get back on track again."

The Brazil international was hailed as the club's most exciting signing of the close-season when he arrived in a blaze of publicity in a $30 million transfer from Santos.

Despite dazzling on his debut against Cadiz on the opening day of the season, however, he failed to impress in his first four months in a side that was struggling for form as a unit.

The sacking of compatriot Vanderlei Luxemburgo as coach at the beginning of December did not augur well for the 22-year-old, but new boss Juan Ramon Lopez Caro appears to have helped Robinho rediscover his touch.

With the side now unbeaten in eight league and cup outings, Robinho has been one of Real's most dangerous players, scoring in his last three matches.

Another key ingredient to Real's changing fortunes, according to Beckham, has been the influence of the new coach.

"I said that the first two months under Lopez Caro would be very tough, because we knew he would make us work hard to get us back in shape."

"Now we have done that and you can see the results in the games we have played, but we need to continue improving. The league looks difficult to achieve but we are still alive in two great competitions, the King's Cup and the Champions League."

"Lopez Caro has asked me to play wider on the right similar to how I played at Manchester United. The systems don't worry me too much but I am now enjoying myself again."