Updated: March 3, 2008, 6:09 AM EST 28 comments

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The English midfielder, in the middle of an Asian tour with his Los Angeles Galaxy team, will call his family Tuesday for the birthday, his press agent said Monday.

Brooklyn, the oldest son of Beckham and pop star Victoria Beckham, will turn 9 on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately they will not be here (in China), but they send their love," David Beckham told a crowd at a promotional event.

Excited Chinese fans at the Galaxy's practice venue Monday unfurled a "Happy Birthday Brooklyn" banner as Beckham and his teammates left the field.

Coach Ruud Gullit expressed concerns about the quality of the playing field in Shanghai and said Beckham's playing time in Wednesday's game against Shanghai-Hong Kong United would depend on whether the field is cleaned up.

"The pitch is in bad shape," Gullit said. "Also dangerous, because stones, bones, shells, everything is on it. It's pretty difficult to play."

Beckham said he hoped to play the entire game.

His Major League Soccer team also will play in Hong Kong on March 9.

The Galaxy's regular season begins at the end of this month.