Beckham, Toni eye openers in Italy

ROME: High-profile new arrivals David Beckham and Luca Toni will be aiming to be in the thick of the action for AC Milan and AS Roma respectively when the Italian league restarts after the winter break on Wednesday.

England midfielder Beckham is expected to start on the bench and come on at some point for second-placed Milan in their home game against Genoa after returning to the club on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy following a successful stint at the San Siro last season.

Beckham is in Italy until the end of the campaign to get the top-level football needed to push for a place in Fabio Capello's England World Cup squad.