Man. City: Balotelli could miss Stoke clash
Striker Mario Balotelli could miss Manchester City's next match against Stoke after undergoing laser-eye surgery in Italy.The 22-year-old underwent the minor operation, a day earlier than expected so as to avoid the paparazzi, after recently suffering from conjunctivitis associated with wearing contact lenses. Balotelli's surgeon suggested he could return "in around 10 days" meaning he would be touch-and-go for City's trip to the Britannia Stadium on September 15."He had a few problems with contact lenses some years ago," surgeon Emanuele Scuri reportedly told Sky Sport Italia."We waited for the defect to stabilise over the last four years and this was the right time to have the operation. "His eyes did not tolerate the contact lenses and had problems at the start of the season."I think in around 10 days he should be ready to play again. "Already he asked if he could drive and I suggested he should get a lift until Thursday."We brought the operation forward by a day to avoid paparazzi. This surgery will enable Balotelli to see very well."City waited until the international break to book Balotelli in for the procedure, which has ruled him out of Italy's World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta.Should Balotelli fail to return in time for the Stoke match he could be available when City open their Champions League campaign against Real Madrid three days later. Source: PA
2012-09-05 13:17:00
Chelsea: Cahill tips Bertrand for big future
Ryan Bertrand has been tipped to enjoy a "massive future" by Gary Cahill after signing a new five-year contract with Chelsea.The Blues confirmed that Bertrand had penned a fresh deal - barely a year after agreeing a four-year contract - following his remarkable progress in recent months.Chelsea and England team-mate Cahill said: "I think people are just starting to sit up and realise how good a player he is from the couple of spells he had at the end of last year and to be thrown into the Champions League final and start. He has got a great reputation, especially at our club, and is going to have a massive future, that's for sure."The 23-year-old became the first man ever to make his Champions League debut in the final itself in May, made his England debut in last month's friendly win over Italy, and kept his place in the squad for Friday's opening World Cup qualifier in Moldova.Bertrand has started two of Chelsea's three Barclays Premier League games this season.Prior to Roberto Di Matteo's appointment as manager in March, he barely figured for his parent club since making a controversial move from Gillingham seven years ago.Ashley Cole's arrival as Chelsea's undisputed first-choice left-back saw Bertrand spend much of his early Stamford Bridge career out on loan.He did not make his debut until April last year and there had been speculation he may be forced to leave in search of regular first-team football but he is now very much seen as the heir apparent to Cole, whose own contract expires next summer.He could also succeed Cole in the England set-up but will probably play second fiddle to Leighton Baines in Friday's opening World Cup qualifier in Moldova - Cole has been ruled out of that match through injury.Cahill added: "It only benefits him coming here with England and seeing the likes of Bainsey and obviously training with Ashley." Source: PA
2012-09-05 14:49:00
West Ham Utd.: Carroll out for six weeks
West Ham striker Andy Carroll could be facing up to six weeks out of action with a hamstring injury.Carroll, 23, was forced to withdraw from England's 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine after the on-loan Liverpool frontman limped off in the second half of his debut against Fulham. The Barclays Premier League club are yet to confirm reports scans have shown the problem to be more severe than first suspected.However, co-owner David Gold responded to questions on his official Twitter account suggesting the player being back by mid-October would be the "worst case scenario".Carroll is now certainly expected to miss the resumption of the domestic season at Norwich next weekend, as well as the Capital One Cup tie against Wigan.The Irons host Arsenal on October 6, by which time if the striker is not back towards match fitness, he would also be a major doubt for the next round of World Cup qualifiers with San Marino at Wembley and in Poland the following week.Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is in no doubt Carroll, who played a key role in two of his side's goals in the 3-0 win over Fulham, can be a major asset.He said: "If Andy scores between 10 and 15 goals, it is going to give us a great chance to be out of the relegation zone."If Andy gets 15 to 20 goals, we can get in the top 10 because all we have to do there is to produce enough clean sheets to make sure we get points on the board with the goals that he scores." Source: PA
2012-09-05 14:49:00
England: Baines eager to take England chance
Leighton Baines has no issue living in Ashley Cole's shadow - but he is eager to step into the limelight himself in Moldova on Friday.Cole's hopes of becoming the first full-back to make a century of England appearances during this month's World Cup double-header have been dashed by the ankle injury that has prevented him making the trip to Chisinau.It means finally, two and a half years after making his debut, Baines will get to start a competitive game for the first time and he said: "Ashley has been fantastic over the years. He is someone, for the rest of us, for Ryan (Bertrand) and myself and Kieran Gibbs, who is not in the squad but is a young left-back coming through, to look at and try to learn from."Cole's absence is just one injury blow Hodgson has suffered in the build-up to Friday's game.Most damaging is the gashed thigh that rules Wayne Rooney out.Fellow striker Andy Carroll has been sidelined by a hamstring strain, whilst Gareth Barry has still not recovered from the groin injury that ruled him out of Euro 2012."The depth of the squad is going to be tested," said Baines. "There are a lot of players missing but we still have a strong squad and it is well capable of winning these two games."And that would be the perfect start to what Baines regards as the real beginning to Hodgson's tenure."We are getting the benefit of Roy's experience in preparation now. The structure that he likes to set the team up by," he said. "The situation before was slightly different because of the changeover of manager before a tournament, which wasn't ideal."Now it starts properly." Source: PA
2012-09-05 14:49:00
Chelsea: Malouda- Im training with youth team
Florent Malouda claims he has been banished from training with the Chelsea first team for what remains of his Stamford Bridge career.Winger Malouda took to Twitter to reveal he had been ordered to train with the club's youth team, posting a picture of the headquarters of their under-21 squad, along with the message: "This is where I'll train for my last season with the blues !!!"The 32-year-old, who is in the final year of his contract, was left out of Chelsea's squad for their Champions League group stage campaign.Press Association Sport understands Malouda - who was nevertheless named in the Blues' squad for the first half of the Barclays Premier League season on Tuesday - has been segregated from the first team after failing to secure a move away this summer.His banishment evoked memories of those of Nicolas Anelka and Alex by former boss Andre Villas-Boas last season, a move which reportedly did not go down well with their team-mates.Malouda's circumstances are slightly different and it is understood Chelsea were willing to sell or loan him out during the transfer window - he was even linked with a return to former club Lyon ahead of last night's midnight transfer deadline in France.He has not featured at all in any of the Blues' matchday squads this season and has been heavily touted for a move away for several weeks.A transfer to Brazilian giants Santos reportedly collapsed earlier this summer due to the wage demands of the France winger, who has been at Chelsea for five years but has become increasingly peripheral.He will doubtless be on good money and may have been reluctant to join a club where he would earn less, preferring to see out his current deal and move as a free agent at the end of the season. Source: PA
2012-09-05 14:49:00
Man. Utd.: Henriquez completes United move
Manchester United have completed the signing of Angelo Henriquez and the Chile Under-23 striker has now joined from Universidad de Chile for an undisclosed fee.The 18-year-old underwent a medical with the Red Devils last month and was granted a work permit."Angelo has made a tremendous impact on the game in his short career so far," manager Sir Alex Ferguson told manutd.com. "His pace is a great asset and he reads the game really well for someone of such a young age."He added: "We have a proud record of developing young talent and Angelo fits the profile of a United player - skilful, attacking and someone who plays the game with real flair."The player admits he is honoured to be moving to Old Trafford."I am thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world. Manchester United is a great team and has a great manager," he said."To be able to be part of that is a huge honour and I can't wait to get started."I hope I can be part of many successful years with United." Source: PA
2012-09-05 15:49:00
Q.P.R.: Barton makes Marseille move
Joey Barton thanked QPR for giving him the opportunity to join Marseille on a season-long loan.Barton launched a series of tirades against the club via Twitter after he was forced to train with the youth team, but he appears to be leaving the west London club on good terms after finalising a temporary move to the Ligue 1 leaders while Stephane Mbia has gone in the opposite direction in a permanent deal."I am now a player for L'OM. What a birthday present! Cannot wait to get going. #allezL'OM," tweeted Barton, who turns 30 on Sunday."Would like to thank (agent) Willie Mckay, (Marseille sporting director) Jose Anigo and (chairman) Vincent Lebrune aka Mr President for making it happen. #allezmarseille"I would also like to thank (QPR owner) @tonyfernandes and (chief executive) @Amit_Bhatia99 for making this possible. Good luck to everyone at QPR for this season."I am happy to be playing for such a massive European club like Marseille. Bonne nuit xx" Source: PA
2012-09-01 00:17:00
Man. City: Garcia makes it five at City
Manchester City have completed the signing of Spain defensive midfielder Javi Garcia from Benfica for an undisclosed fee.The 25-year-old underwent a medical on Friday evening and signed a deal to become City's fifth capture of a busy transfer deadline day. Maicon, Scott Sinclair, Richard Wright and Matija Nastasic had joined the Barclays Premier League champions earlier in the day.City gave no details of the length of contract while reports claimed the player was likely to have cost around £16million.The former Real Madrid player will effectively replace Nigel de Jong in the squad after the Holland international left for AC Milan.The deal was completed just before the 11pm transfer deadline and confirmed afterwards. Source: PA
2012-09-01 00:17:00
Chelsea: Cole embarrassed by Chelsea loss
Ashley Cole branded Chelsea's UEFA Super Cup performance an "absolute joke" after their humiliating 4-1 thrashing by Atletico Madrid.Chelsea were meant to have improved since finally ending their long wait for Champions League glory, but Cole acknowledged they showed none of the "fight, desire, passion" that saw them claim club football's ultimate prize last season.He tweeted: "Wellll that was a lesson, absolute joke no fight, desire, passion, and a big reality check!!!!!! #sorrycfcfans."The loss was one of Chelsea's heaviest since Roman Abramovich bought the club and would have put a real dampener on the Russian's celebrations after he won his long-running legal battle with Boris Berezovsky earlier in the day.It also may have sowed the first seed of doubt as to whether the £80million he spent on his favourite hobby this summer was value for money.It had certainly looked that way when Chelsea stormed to the top of the Barclays Premier League, but Friday was another failure with silverware on the line following last month's Community Shield defeat.Gary Cahill, who scored Chelsea's consolation after Radamel Falcao's hat-trick and Joao Miranda had crushed them, told Sky Sports 2: "We fell to pieces. We started the game sloppy and that went right through the game. If we're honest with ourselves everyone was below par."It was embarrassing at times. We let ourselves down and passed up a great opportunity. Obviously we will look to bounce back in the league as today was unacceptable."Chelsea defended against Falcao as if they were completely unaware he was one of the best finishers in the world, rather than a player with whom they had long been linked.Man-of-the-match Falcao admitted there had been interest in him from England this summer. He added: "The club that made the effort to keep me was Atletico Madrid and, today, that was rewarded." Source: PA
2012-09-01 08:17:00
Stoke City: Stoke sign third midfielder
Stoke have confirmed their third transfer deadline day signing with the capture of Steven Nzonzi from Blackburn on a four-year contract.The official news of Nzonzi's move, for an initial fee of ?3.5million which could eventually rise to £5million, followed the arrivals of fellow midfielders Charlie Adam and Maurice Edu from Liverpool and Rangers respectively.Adam and Edu have been given the all-clear to feature in Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan at the DW Stadium.France Under-21 international Nzonzi told www.stokecityfc.com: "I am very happy to be here and I would like to thank Stoke for giving me this chance because I felt that I was ready for a move and a new challenge."There is strong competition for places here at Stoke, but that is part of the game and that can only help to make me an even better player."I heard that the club was interested in me a couple of weeks ago, although I think they have been looking at me for a long time."Nzonzi began his career in France with Amiens before joining Blackburn in the summer of 2009, and was named Rovers' player of the year in his first season.Stoke boss Tony Pulis said: "Steven is an outstanding young prospect. He has made a big impact in the Premier League since he arrived at Blackburn three years ago and I am sure he will prove to be an excellent addition to our squad. He is the type of player who will endear himself to our supporters."Scotland international Adam has signed for an undisclosed fee - believed to be in the region of ?4million - just a year after Kenny Dalglish signed him for Liverpool from Blackpool. Edu had his transfer rubber-stamped on Friday after Stoke had confirmed last Saturday he had agreed personal terms on a three-year deal. Source: PA