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With David Beckham set for a short-term spell at Milan in the New Year, we investigate some other notable footballing cameos.

FIVE THAT WORKED

George Best at Fulham (1976-77); 33 apps, seven goals

Best's career appeared in free-fall after he quit Manchester United on New Year's Day 1974. Short spells followed at Stockport County, Cork Celtic, Los Angeles Aztecs - even, remarkably, three appearances at non-league Dunstable Town.

But something clicked when Best signed for Fulham in the summer of 1976. His body was paying the price for the years of damage he had suffered at the hands of unforgiving defenders - and 48-hour Champagne and whisky benders - but he still had the skills and love of the game to raise himself for one last, brilliant season.

David Nugent for England (2007); 11 minutes, one goal

Nugent might only be 23, but it is a fair assumption that he will never add to his single international cap, an 11-minute substitute appearance against Andorra. And, really, why would Nugent want to? How many other players can claim an international goalscoring ratio of one every 11 minutes?

Okay, it was only against Andorra. And of course, it was a shameless and comprehensively unskilled effort, booting in Jermain Defoe's goal-bound effort from barely one-yard out. But the history books will only record: David Nugent: 1 cap, 1 goal.

Henrik Larsson for Manchester United (2007); 13 appearances, three goals

Three goals in 13 games is hardly the stuff of legends, but there can be no doubt that Larsson's nine-week loan spell at Old Trafford was a success. He scored on his debut against Aston Villa, and also on his final appearance at Old Trafford, against Lille in the Champions League, before returning to Helsingborgs at the start of March as promised, resisting attempts by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to persuade him to stay.

Teddy Sheringham at Colchester United (2007-08); 19 appearances, three goals

Sheringham had just turned 41 when he shocked the football world (or perhaps surprised fans in south-east England) by signing a one-year playing deal with Championship side Colchester United after being released by West Ham United.

Few thought that he could have much of an impact in the uncompromising lower leagues, but Sheringham thrived in a new midfield role, using his vast experience to direct play from deep. Unfortunately, the move didn't do much for his image as the world's trendiest footballer, and WAG-extraordinaire Danielle Lloyd was so underwhelmed that she dumped him at the first opportunity.

Ally McCoist in A Shot At Glory (2000)

Former Rangers striker McCoist was a natural for the role of out-of-shape striker Jackie McQuillan in Michael Corrente's sporting blockbuster A Shot At Glory, which starred Godfather actor Robert Duvall as the manager of a second tier Scottish football team.

Reactions to McCoist's performance were mixed. Kevin Costner gushed: "He [McCoist] is a truly remarkable talent. It's rare that sportsmen can act, but Ally is a natural. He has an Olivier-type quality" While one critic described McCoist as "the new Vinnie Jones. And that is not a compliment".

AND FIVE THAT FAILED

Ali Dia for Southampton (1997), 21 minutes, 0 goals

Named at number one in a list of 'The 50 worst footballers' in The Times, Dia became famous for his 21-minute substitute appearance for Southampton in 1997 after Graeme Souness had been conned into offering him a one-month contract on the basis of false claims that Dia was George Weah's cousin, was a former Paris St-Germain player and had featured for his country 13 times.

After just one training session (in which Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier described him as "not very good"), Dia was immediately brought into the squad for a Premier League match against Leeds. He came on in the first half for the injured Le Tissier, but was hauled off just after the break, replaced by a man with comparable ball-skills - hulking defender Ken Monkou.

Jari Limanen at Fulham (2008), 0 games

Signed on a £15,000-per-week, six-month contract by new Fulham boss Roy Hodgson, desperate to inject a creative spark into his struggling side, the 37-year-old Litmanen was forced to return to Finland just a fortnight after signing after complaining of heart problems.

On his return, Litmanen began to complain of muscle problems and darted back home to have new insoles fitted in his boots. Hodgson wasn't impressed. "Jari has not completed more than 10 per cent of the training sessions we have done since I have been at the club," the manager said. "He has not played one game in the Fulham shirt yet has played twice for Finland. Strangely, his fitness periods seem to coincide with the Finland matches."

Sol Campbell in Footballers' Wives

Campbell wasn't the first footballer to earn a cameo appearance in the trashy ITV 'drama,' but his was certainly amongst the worst. Not that Sol thought so. He enjoyed the experience so much he went to New York to find an agent who could help him crack main-stream cinema.

Oddly, he found someone deluded enough to help him. "Sol wants to become an actor when his soccer career ends and would love to be the next Denzel Washington. He loved appearing in Footballers' Wives and feels acting is something he could do. Vinnie Jones did it, so why not Sol? He's a good- looking guy."

Tomas Brolin at Crystal Palace (1998), 13 games, 0 goals

The one-time darling of Serie A (where he made 133 appearances for Parma) was as wide as he was tall by the time he was offered a trial by Crystal Palace manager Steve Coppell. Quite what Coppell expected is anyone's guess. Brolin had already failed miserably in a spell at Leeds United and had played just 14 games in two seasons on loan at FC Zurich and old club Parma.

The Swede was obviously and painfully out of shape - and failed to make any sort of impact (other than on the post-match buffet) as Palace were relegated.

William Prunier at Manchester United (1995/96), Two games, 0 goals

Having bought out his contract with Bordeaux in the winter of 1995, French defender Prunier moved to Old Trafford on a trial basis where he was reunited with old pal Eric Cantona, who he had played in the youth ranks at Auxerre.

Hastily drafted into the side after United suffered a host of defensive injuries, Prunier hit the crossbar with a blistering shot in a promising debut against Queens Park Rangers on December 30 1995. His second match was less auspicious, with fans and media mercilessly blaming him for United's four-goal defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Sir Alex offered to extend the Frenchman's trial - and with hindsight, will perhaps be grateful that Prunier turned the offer down.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport