Achilles toll: How players have fared after suffering same injury as Becks

Achilles injuries have had a devastating effect on the careers of several big-name footballers. Perhaps the most high profile was John Barnes. The Liverpool winger ruptured his achilles tendon in England's last warm-up before Euro '92 - a 2-1 friendly win against Finland in Helsinki. It took Barnes, then 28, five months to return to the Liverpool side and he lost the blistering pace that had characterised his game. The midfielder was left with a six-inch scar and, 18 years on, said his injured calf was still an inch and a half shorter than his good leg. Agony: John Barnes lost his lightning-fast running ability after his achilles injuryBarnes added: 'You never really get that muscle back, but I relied on my pace and David never did, so I don't think it will necessarily impair his ability.' Others to have suffered from tendon trouble include: Yakubu: The Everton striker (right), then 26, ruptured his achilles playing against Tottenham in November 2008 and did not start a Premier League match until October 2009. Mark Lawrenson: Aged just 30, the Liverpool defender snapped an achilles tendon in March 1988 and retired prematurely from football. Neil Webb: The midfielder, then 26, snapped an Achilles tendon in action for England - just four games after a £1.5million move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester United in 1989. Webb was never the same player again, moving back to Forest in 1992 and suffering another achilles injury before dropping down the League with moves to Swindon, Grimsby and Aldershot.  David Beckham out for six months after surgery while Fabio Capello hopes to have star fit for Euro 2012 qualifiersMARTIN SAMUEL: England should take David Beckham to the World Cup as a cheerleaderDavid Beckham WILL be back: Star vows to play on for England as Achilles op saves careerDavid Beckham's England milestones: Sportsmail looks back on his international career after midfield star is ruled out of World Cup  

Source: Daily_Mail