Beckham's first instalment to Real

David Beckham does not expect to command a central midfield role for Real Madrid, despite a ringing endorsement yesterday from the club's coach, Carlos Queiroz, after Real beat FC Tokyo 3-0.

Queiroz hailed Beckham's "great game" as the England captain dispelled any lingering doubts over his £25m move to the Spanish champions earlier this summer. While Queiroz has always known what Beckham is capable of following their time together last season at Manchester United, the 27-year-old had still to prove himself to his new team-mates.

Against FC Tokyo in the second game of Real's money-spinning Far East tour, Beckham duly obliged by scoring the opener with a superb trademark free-kick. The goal was the crowning glory of a commanding central midfield performance from Beckham as he controlled the game's pace.

But although Zinedine Zidane looked on from the bench and Luis Figo was switched to the wing, Beckham is aware there is strong competition for the pivotal role in the Real side.

"I really enjoyed the game today and I had the luck to score," Beckham said. "It was a good goal and I'm pleased to have done it in my second game for Real. After 10 days with the team, it's a reward for all the hard work.

"Switching to the centre of midfield was a good move, particularly because Tokyo pushed through the middle. I felt more involved in the game. But although I really enjoyed playing in the middle, it does not mean I am going to do it in the next few matches."

Queiroz was delighted with Beckham's display, saying: "He has done what we expected from him. In the two games he has played in four positions and he has played very well. Today he played a great game, especially in the middle."

Beckham's 72-minute debut on Saturday in the 4-0 victory over the Chinese Dragons was nothing more than tidy and efficient, as Real kicked off their Asian tour with a comfortable win. Yet in front of a rain-drenched, full-house 48,000 crowd at the National Stadium yesterday, Beckham delivered. His 37th-minute right-foot curler from the left-hand edge of the penalty area was bent beyond a three-man wall and the goalkeeper Yoichi Doi, and so heralded his arrival in the Real team.

It at least overshadowed his opening noteworthy moment when he picked up the only booking of the game in the 10th minute for a clipped challenge on Masashi Miyazawa.

Following that, though, Beckham was a pivotal figure in a number of Real's key attacking moments and after he struck, his new team flowed smoothly in the closing stages of the first half. They were rewarded with their second goal just before the interval when Santiago Solari slotted home after Doi could only parry a Javier Portillo drive.

Surprisingly, Real failed to add to their tally until the closing moments with another Far East hero, Ronaldo, enhancing his iconic status with a stunning right-foot finish to complete an easy win.

Beckham, looking more assured as the game wore on, could have added to his own personal tally as a surging run into the area raised the crowd's expectancy, but an attempted chip with his weaker left foot lacked the height to trouble Doi.

In the end, in completing the 90 minutes and getting that first goal under his belt, Beckham will at least have gained a degree of respect from any sceptical team-mates.