Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has ruled himself out of Saturday's Spanish Primera Liga match away to Real Sociedad because of an ankle injury.
"I'm not ready to play yet," the England captain told reporters after training on Thursday. "I am able to run, but when I try to kick the ball it's 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 thought I'd be able to play against Eibar but it wasn't to be," he said. "Now I won't be able to play on Saturday either which is disappointing.
"The infection has almost disappeared, but I'm still on antibiotics."
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.
