Baines hails 'fantastic' Ashley Cole as he steps into his England place
The full-back looks set to start his first competitive game for the Three Lions in the Chelsea man's absence, over two years after making his debut for the national side
Leighton Baines
2012-09-05 18:30:00
Gary Cahill expecting Sturridge success with England
The centre-back has talked up his younger club-mate, pointing out that the 23-year-old striker has looked sharp in training
Daniel Sturridge
2012-09-05 19:05:00
West Ham striker Carroll to miss the next six weeks
The England International has been forced to withdraw from Roy Hodgson's squad ahead of this month's World Cup qualifiers and could miss up to four matches for the Hammers
Andy Carroll
2012-09-05 19:30:00
Man. City: Aguero could be fit for Argentina
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has hinted he could be involved in Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Peru on Tuesday despite not having played for his club since suffering a knee injury on the opening day of the season.The Barclays Premier League champions expect to be without the striker until mid-September at the earliest after he fell awkwardly in their opening league game against Southampton last month. But Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella included Aguero in his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru on Friday and Tuesday.City boss Roberto Mancini labelled Sabella's decision to include Aguero "ridiculous", however the 24-year-old told reporters on his arrival: "I'm here until the Peru game. The knee still hurts at the moment and it bothers me, but maybe in two or three days the landscape will change. Now I'm going to see the doctors of the Argentinian Football Association."Mancini accepted Argentina had a right under international rules to summon Aguero - and carry out their own medical assessment if necessary - but claimed it was a ludicrous situation.Speaking on August 24, soon after the squad was announced, the Italian said: "It is impossible because Sergio needs a minimum of two weeks without training. After two weeks he can start again."If in one week if he could be ready to play it is different, but I think he needs another two weeks."He can go and fly back quickly. These are the rules and we need to respect them - they are ridiculous rules."Aguero was happy to have been called up by Sabella despite the injury."It's always nice to be here with the guys," the former Atletico Madrid man added. "We knew from the Under-20s that this was a good group, and we must continue in this way." Source: PA
2012-09-05 06:47:00
England: Family matters for Defoe
Striker Jermain Defoe is on the verge of winning his 50th England cap but has a different perspective on life and football after suffering a double summer family tragedy.Defoe will take great pride from reaching the milestone if he plays a part in England's opening World Cup 2014 qualifier in Moldova on Friday evening. But the Tottenham player has had to deal with bigger issues with the death of his father through cancer and one of his cousins being electrocuted in a swimming pool during the past few months.He said: "You get disappointments in life and then everything turns good but it has been difficult for me and my family. It has been hard, especially with my dad."He went on: "From day one, when he was diagnosed, I was with him from the first meeting in the hospital. I am only 29 and to deal with that was quite difficult. "I had to tell dad my 'it will be okay and be positive, keep praying and have faith.'"I have always known about cancer but to be around someone who has cancer and to see what it does in such a short space of time was mad."Defoe admitted: "It makes you think about your life and what is important. I have got a big family and we have always been close."If you have an argument with someone and you sulk, sometimes you don't want to speak to them. But it is important to keep your friends close to you and do the right things."It did make me think about my life especially with what happened with my cousin as well, electrocuted in a pool. She was only 21."To be honest, the only time I am really at peace is when I am training and playing. Obviously when you are on your own you start thinking (about) stuff." Source: PA
2012-09-05 06:47:00
Man. Utd.: Rooney aware of Ferguson demands
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney knows he has to be at the top of his game or risk the wrath of manager Sir Alex Ferguson.The England forward admits that he put on seven pounds during the off-season but explained the hard work he puts in during training makes the excess weight easy to shift."As a striker I need to work hard all the time. I need to be sharp, which means my fitness has to be right to play well. If it isn't, it shows," he told the Mirror, who are serialising his latest autobiography."It would probably be different if I were a full-back. I could hide a bit, make fewer runs into the opposition half and get away with it. As a centre-forward for Manchester United, there's no place to hide. I've got to work as hard as I can, otherwise the manager will haul me off the pitch or drop me for the next game."There's no room for failure or second best at this club."Rooney found that out late last year after he was dropped for a match against Blackburn at Old Trafford. Ferguson was unhappy after it came to light Rooney had been out socialising after a game."I'm happy at Manchester United, despite the downs that sometimes take place at a football club," he continued."Like when we stuff Wigan 5-0 on Boxing Day. I go out for dinner with a few of the lads, and our other halves, to a hotel. The next day, the manager pulls me up and tells me he's not happy and doesn't feel I've trained properly."He fines me, but there's worse to come. I'm dropped for the next game, on New Year's Eve, against Blackburn."At a lot of clubs, people wouldn't bat an eyelid at players having a night out six days before a game. But that's the difference at Manchester United and a mark of the high standards the manager demands. It's a big deal, another lesson learned." Source: PA
2012-09-05 08:47:00
Man. Utd.: Scholes happy to bide his time
Paul Scholes has welcomed the extra competition provided by Manchester United's new signings.The veteran midfielder has been limited to just a couple of substitute appearances so far this season while Ryan Giggs is still to start a match and Wayne Rooney was dropped for the encounter with Fulham last month as Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa were paired together in attack. But Scholes is not complaining."You always like to see new players come in even if they're in your position because it's healthy for the team and exciting to play with the new players," he told www.manutd.com."We've got strength everywhere in the squad. We've struggled with injuries to defenders, but when we have everyone fit there are two teams that the manager has available to him that could compete in the Premier League and cup competitions."As players, we know when we get given our chance we have to take it. If you don't, you'll be out of the team, simple as that."Robin van Persie has already made his mark with four goals following a big-money transfer from Arsenal. Yet the shockwaves created by that move would have been equalled if United had secured the services of brilliant Brazilian Neymar, as has been reported.Club sources insist the story is wide of the mark, though, and no move to sign Neymar from Santos was ever made.Instead, Ferguson is quite happy with the contribution of Shinji Kagawa, who has settled in well following his switch from German double winners Borussia Dortmund.In addition, United brought in Nick Powell, Alexander Buttner and Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez, who all look set to make their debuts in the eye-catching Carling Cup tie with Newcastle at Old Trafford on September 26."I think that will be the route," Ferguson told Inside United. "(Henriquez) is strong with great shoulders on him for a boy of 18. He's coming into training with the first team, like Nick Powell. Nick's doing very well. He's a very good player and maybe Buttner depending on how he has progressed with the first team." Source: PA
2012-09-05 10:47:00
England: Portugal climb as England stay third
Portugal are the only side to have made an upwards move inside the top 10 of the latest FIFA rankings which have been released.The table, which takes into account August's internationals, sees Paulo Bento's men move from fifth to fourth, with Uruguay swapping places with them.Reigning world and European champions Spain stay top, with Germany second and England third.The rest of the top 10 is made up of Italy, Argentina, Holland, Croatia and Denmark.Switzerland have broken into the top 20 with a three-place rise from 23rd, while Slovenia are big movers, up nine spots to 24th, with Belgium also making a leap from 53rd to 40th.The Republic of Ireland remain 26th, Wales drop eight places to 45th, Scotland are 47th and Northern Ireland in the wilderness in 129th. Source: PA
2012-09-05 10:47:00
Q.P.R.: QPR look to loan out trio
QPR will attempt to loan out Luke Young, DJ Campbell and Radek Cerny until at least the January transfer window, Press Association Sport understands.The trio were all omitted from Mark Hughes' squad for the first half of the Barclays Premier League season and are expected to be made available to clubs outside the top flight when the emergency loan transfer window opens next week.QPR did attempt to offload both Campbell and Young permanently or on loan before the summer transfer window closed but were unable to do so.Meanwhile, new signing Stephane Mbia has admitted he did not want to leave Marseille.The midfielder joined QPR on transfer deadline lane for a reported £4.5million, with Joey Barton going the other way on loan.Mbia told RMC: "I didn't want to go but the owner of the club made me understand I had to leave."The wage bill had to be reduced and certain players had to go." Source: PA
2012-09-05 12:18:00
Everton: Distin believes Everton can compete
Everton defender Sylvain Distin believes the club have enough quality in their squad to "compete for something interesting" this season.Manager David Moyes started his summer business early, bringing in Steven Naismith and re-signing Steven Pienaar. He added ?6million forward Kevin Mirallas last month and brought in Bryan Oviedo, 17-year-old Kilmarnock winger Matthew Kennedy and midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe on loan late on."When you see new players coming in you know everything is moving in the right direction and that is what every single player wants," said Distin."It's a bit early to say this is the best squad during my time here. "We need a bit of time for players to adapt and see how well they are going to do but I rarely remember the squad having so much quality. We have enough quality to compete for something interesting this season."Unusually for Everton they got off to a flying start, winning their first two matches, although defeat at West Brom clipped their wings somewhat.However, Distin believes there is a different mood around the club this season."We are not used to this and it is a good feeling," he told evertontv."We have started well and the squad is only going to get better and bigger. We want our team to get better and for there to be more competition between the players."But we should never expect too much too soon. It is a good start, which is very positive, but we are so far from the end [of the season]." Source: PA