David Beckham pulled crowds to Milan's training complex yesterday after landing in Italy for the start of his second stint at the Serie A club and immediately being put through his paces.

Beckham will stay at Milan on loan until the end of the season to get the top-level action needed to have a chance of making England's World Cup squad after finishing the Major League Soccer campaign with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The former England captain also had a successful loan spell at the seven-times European champions last term.

"David Beckham tackled the whole training session in the group with his team-mates, including the ball-possession exercises and the practice match," Milan said.

The fact he went straight into full training suggests the 34-year-old has recovered from the bruised right ankle bone that troubled him in the run-up to the MLS Cup final, which the Galaxy lost to Real Salt Lake on penalties in November.

His arrival attracted a number of fans to the gates of Milan's training ground despite the low temperatures to cap off a good day all round for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder.

England manager Fabio Capello said in an interview published yesterday that Beckham will be in his squad for South Africa 2010 providing he is fit and playing regularly.

Beckham rejoins a team lying second in Serie A, eight points behind leaders Inter with a game in hand after their last match, at Fiorentina, was postponed due to snow.