League Cup hero Foster signs new contract with United

July 8, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Ben Foster was rewarded for his goalkeeping heroics in Manchester United’s League Cup penalty shootout victory last season when he signed a new four year contract with the Premier League champions on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old is seen by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the natural successor to present incumbent Edwin van der Sar, despite having a season where he battled against a succession of injuries.

“We are delighted that Ben has signed a new four-year deal,” commented Ferguson.

“Ben is seen as one of the best young goalkeepers in England and we genuinely see him as a successor to Edwin van der Sar.”

Foster conceded that with Dutch great van der Sar still at the club that it may compromise his chances of making England’s World Cup squad if they qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals but was still happy to commit himself to the club.

“I’m really happy to commit my future to the club,” said the former Stoke and Watford goalkeeper.

“The team spirit here is fantastic and working alongside Edwin and Tomasz (Kusczak) has been a great influence on my career.”

Foster, who is considered a potential England number one, had surgery on a ruptured thumb ligament in May which ruled him out for the final month of last season.

That meant the twice-capped England international missed the Champions League final against Barcelona and the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra in June.

Foster, who missed most of the 2007/08 season following cruciate ligament surgery, has been unfortunate with injuries having also suffered an ankle ligament injury just a few weeks into last season.

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Owen´s return can fire Newcastle to safety- Hughton

March 11, 2009

NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) – Newcastle captain Michael Owen’s return from injury will provide the impetus to save the struggling Premier League club from relegation, according to caretaker manager Chris Hughton.

Owen, 29, has missed the last five matches after suffering an ankle ligament injury during Newcastle’s defeat at Manchester City on January 28.

In the England striker’s absence, Newcastle, whose manager Joe Kinnear is recovering from triple heart bypass surgery, have been unable to pull clear of the relegation zone and they travel to Hull on Saturday just one point above the bottom three.

But Owen is back for the KC Stadium clash this week and Hughton is confident the former Liverpool and Real Madrid star can play a crucial role in firing Newcastle to safety.

"At a time like now when we know we are going into the last phase of the season, you want as many of your big players around the squad as possible, and Michael is certainly one of those," Hughton said on Wednesday.

"As our captain, Michael is arguably the biggest of the lot of them. His presence around the squad is always a plus but to actually have him available to play really is a boost for us going into the Hull game.

"For numerous teams between now and the end of the season, their ability to score goals will be crucial to where they end up.

"Michael isn’t just one of the best strikers in the Premier League, he is one of the best strikers around anywhere. You have to look at his record.

"These have been tough times for Michael regarding injuries but the one thing that remains consistent is that, when he plays, he scores goals.

"That’s testimony to the type of player he is."

Newcastle have won only one of the five games for which Owen has been out of action and taken just five points in the process.

Hughton knows Owen’s goals are Newcastle’s best hope of scrambling enough points from their remaining 10 games to stay up, but he called on the rest of the squad to share the burden.

"Anyone would rather have Michael Owen in the squad than not in the squad," he said. "We want him, most definitely, because of what he brings to the team.

"But what will bring us the edge over our rivals is the team’s performance on the day.

"For everything Michael is, he’s one of just 11 players, he can’t win games on his own.

"We have to perform well. If Michael is going to score goals, he needs someone to provide those goals for him.

"If we give him the ammunition, though, he is one of the best at putting them away."

Written by: AFP