Beckham 'can be PSG's Giggs'

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed David Beckham will be available to make his Ligue 1 debut against Marseille on Sunday, and hopes the veteran can bring to Paris Saint-Germain what Ryan Giggs provides Manchester United.

Giggs, 39, has defied doubters by continuing to be a key presence for Sir Alex Ferguson's side into middle age, and Ancelotti has no doubt Beckham, two years his former United team-mate's junior, will prove equally fundamental during the five months of his contract at PSG.

"He's going to play. I don't think he has a problem. I see Giggs who's still playing at 40 [sic] at Manchester United, who are not a small team," Ancelotti told Ma Chaine Sport TV on Monday evening.

"I had him for six months at Milan. I was surprised. He's a fantastic player and his professionalism is top, top level. He'll bring experience, his quality, he's very serious in training, a very good example of professionalism. He can play as a defensive midfielder. He has a very good quality of pass. He did that last season in Los Angeles."

After working intensively on his fitness over the last three weeks, Beckham is in line to feature at the Parc des Princes against his new club's arch-rivals this Sunday.

If he does play, he will be the 400th PSG player to wear the club's colours, though Ancelotti suggested the ex-England captain may not quite have the legs to play the full 90 minutes of what will be his first competitive outing since December 1.

Ancelotti said: "He'll be available. He's going to work for the rest of this week, not because he has a problem, but because he needs to improve his fitness as he was on holiday for a month."