The England midfielder has not yet played a competitive match for Los Angeles Galaxy since he joined the American club from Real Madrid on July 13.

He had already sat out three SuperLiga group matches, the most recent coming last Tuesday night at FC Dallas as the Galaxy went on the road for the first time since Beckham joined.

And he is expected to play no part in what would have been his MLS debut in Toronto, where the game at BMO Field is a 20,000 sell-out.

"Unless there's a drastic change I won't be playing," Beckham said at a press conference in Toronto.

"I'd love to be out there on the field, especially with the amount of fans that are here and that paid a lot of money to see the Galaxy. But I have to be careful with my injury.

"It's not just about me playing exhibition games or being out there for one or two games, I'm here for five years and maybe more, so that's where people maybe have to be slightly patient and not think I'm just here for the glitz and glamour.

"I'm here to play soccer and not for anything else."

Toronto FC, who joined the MLS at the start of this season, enjoy regular sell-outs at their 20,000-capacity BMO Field but elsewhere in the league, clubs are hoping to see an increase in demand for tickets when Beckham and the Galaxy are due to play in their stadium.

Beckham's Dallas no-show was met with frustration and criticism by some fans and media in Texas but the former England captain added: "I was disappointed not to go to Dallas with the team and be over there with the players.

"But I was warned against because flying over there and just watching the game would flare my ankle up again and put me back at least two or three days.

"So I had to listen to the doctors and physios at that point.

"I know I've been criticised to a certain extent for not appearing in Dallas but as I've said before, I'm here for five years not just this year.

"You've had the likes of Pele and others that have played with injuries and it's been commented that they were great ambassadors for MLS for doing that.

"This is different. I want to be fit and I want to perform when I play in games and that's the most important thing to me.

"This is a long-term thing I'm here for and that's what I'm looking at but again I apologise to the people in Dallas but I'm sure I'll see them next year."

The Galaxy are due in Washington DC on Thursday night and Beckham added: "It would be nice to play some part of the game in Washington but I'll just have to keep my fingers' crossed.

"A week to 10 days is what I'm looking at."