David Beckham returned to the MLS as the Los Angeles Galaxy romped to a fourth victory in a row, overcoming the New York Giants.

Making his seasonal debut for the Galaxy halfway through the current campaign following an extended loan spell with AC Milan, Beckham, 34, had a quiet game in central midfield before being replaced in the 70th minute.

His team stretched their winning run with first-half goals from Alecko Eskandarian, Landon Donovan and Eddie Lewis to move into fourth place in the MLS Western Conference standings and consign the home team to their fourth successive defeat.

Beckham was handed a starting role for the Galaxy on his return to MLS, in a team led by Donovan, playing wide right, who in Beckham's absence regained the club captaincy he had relinquished to the England star on his arrival in July 2007.

Donovan criticised Beckham's leadership and questioned his commitment to the Galaxy, while the Englishman countered with claims his team-mate had been unprofessional in making his feelings public rather than airing them face to face.

The two were brought together by team manager Bruce Arena at the weekend to discuss their differences on Beckham's return to the fold and both players declared the matter over - and that certainly seemed the case as they were both quick to acknowledge the other's contributions.

Neither, though, was involved in the opening goal as Eskandarian turned New York defender Albert Celades with a neat flick and fired home from 20 yards in the third minute.

Donovan doubled the Galaxy lead in the 31st minute, grabbing his seventh goal of the season after receiving the ball from Lewis on the left and beating New York goalkeeper Danny Cepero from the edge of the area.

Beckham was quick to congratulate his team-mate, suggesting their differences were indeed at an end.

The Englishman, greeted with a mix of boos, applause and camera flashes from the 23,238 New York crowd at dead-ball situations, got his first free-kick opportunity three minutes later from 30 yards out, but his rising effort hit the top of the Red Bulls' defensive wall as the home side nullified the threat.

They were guilty of slack defending just before half-time, though, as the Galaxy took a 3-0 lead, Donovan finding room to cross from right to left along the edge of the area as Lewis drove home left-footed across the face of goal into the bottom corner for his second of the season.

With a three-goal cushion at half-time, the Galaxy were happy to sit on their lead in the second half, Beckham sitting deep in central midfield as Donovan provided the creative outlet down the right.

When he was called ashore, Beckham was replaced by English-born Trinidad & Tobago international Chris Birchall, making his Galaxy debut after leaving Brighton earlier this year.

New York finally got on the scoresheet in the 87th minute when Juan Pablo Angel scored from the penalty spot, but the former Aston Villa striker missed another two minutes later as the Red Bulls extended their winless run to 11 games, having won just twice this season, to remain at the foot of the Eastern Conference.