Reading, who are still seven points off Championship leaders Wolves, host Watford this Friday night. See all the latest BestPrice betting here.

Former LA Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas believes David Beckham may not return to America after his loan with Milan.

The England midfielder’s spell with the Italian club ends in March, when the Major League Soccer season resumes.

Lalas, who signed Beckham on a five-year contract with the Galaxy, told Radio Five Live: “If I was still at the Galaxy, yes, I’d fear it. He has to do what he feels is appropriate for his career.”

The 33-year-old joined Milan in a bid to prove his fitness and regain his England place, but Lalas admitted that he may opt to stay with the Italian side.

“I think he wants to do well with the Galaxy but you only have one career,” said Lalas. “The experience he’s going to have at Milan will benefit him individually, how much it benefits the Galaxy and the people that are ultimately paying the majority of his wages remains to be seen.

“He’s back in his comfort zone at AC Milan, playing with one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a tremendous amount of talent around him, with incredible money out there on the field so it must be, in a weird way for him, a relief to get out there.”

Lalas insisted LA Galaxy and the MLS would survive the post-Beckham era.

“Any manager, to a certain extent, wants David Beckham on their team but I also think David Beckham is not bigger than the Galaxy, nor is he bigger than Major League Soccer,” said Lalas.

“The Galaxy will go on and do tremendous things, as will Major League Soccer, well beyond David Beckham’s time. The Galaxy will survive without David Beckham, whether that is three years from now or three months from now. Either way, they will survive.

“I hope he comes back rejuvenated, but I also hope it doesn’t catch up with him in the middle of the season if he does come back to MLS, that’s a danger and that’s something I’d be wary of.”

Reading, who are still seven points off Championship leaders Wolves, host Watford this Friday night. See all the latest BestPrice betting here.