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Former England captain David Beckham has spoken of the bravery of British service personnel in Afghanistan after visiting Helmand province on Saturday. The 35-year old - who is to travel to South Africa with England’s World Cup squad despite missing the tournament through injury - met numerous troops in Helmand, posing for pictures and signing autographs as well as taking part in a question and answer session.

Later, speaking to British Forces News, Beckham said the troops were “the bravest people that I have ever met and it really is, it truly is, an honor to be here.” The former Manchester United player continued: “To see morale of the troops is really incredible. It first kind of hit me on the way over when we were on the military plane flying in to Afghanistan. “You can see the faces, you can see obviously they know they are leaving their families, but they are so focused and they have got this look in their eyes that they are just so confident and just ready.

It is scary, it really is scary, you feel it. Just yesterday one of the troops was killed and you feel it and you see the flags at half-mast and you feel the tension there.” He added: “I have been wanting to come for years, but with my playing schedule I have never had the time. But obviously being injured now it’s given me the chance to do things I have always wanted to do and never been able to. I would love to come back.” Beckham, one of the most capped players in English history, said the troops’ representation of their country was “really amazing”.

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