Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has praised the return to form of team mate Robinho, saying the Brazilian forward has a great future.

It's important to see Robinho doing well because when he first arrived here everyone was questioning whether he would make it or not,’ the England captain told sports daily Marca on Wednesday.

* ' But playing as he is at present you can see he is going to be a great football player.

'He is enormously skilful. He just needed a little confidence to get back on track again.'

The Brazil international was

hailed as the club's most exciting signing of the close-season when he arrived in a blaze of publicity in a 30- million-dollar transfer from Sanios.

Despite dazzling on his debut against Cadiz on the opening day of the season, however, he failed to impress in his first four months in a side that was struggling for form as a unit.

The sacking of compatriot Vanderlei Luxomburgo as coach at the beginningof December did not augur well for the 22-year-old, but new boss Juan Ramon Lopez Caro appears to have helped Robinho rediscover his touch.

With the side now unbeaten in eight league and cup outings, Robinho has been one of Real's most dangerous players, scoring in his last three matches.