Berbatov injury not as bad as Fergie feared

January 18, 2010


Alex Ferguson has downgraded Dimitar Berbatov’s latest fitness problem from a recurrence of a knee injury to a dead leg.

The Bulgaria striker, United’s record 30.75-million-pound signing, now still has an outside chance of playing in Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City at Eastlands.

Berbatov scored the opening goal in champions United’s 3-0 Premier League win over Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday but was substituted before full-time.

After the match, Ferguson said the former Tottenham Hotspur forward had suffered a recurrence of a knee injury which Berbatov has been advised requires an exploratory operation.

However, Berbatov had in fact only suffered a dead leg and while he may not be fit enough to face City, he should be available for Saturday’s league match against Hull.

“I thought Dimitar had got a knock on the knee. It turned out it was a dead leg and we are having a look at it,” Ferguson said Monday.

“I am hoping he will be all right but he is a doubt and we will see what he is like in the morning.”

Ferguson added that veteran forward Ryan Giggs would not feature in Tuesday’s derby tie for the League Cup holders and nor would Rio Ferdinand, even though the England central defender is nearing full fitness after three months out with a back injury.

“Rio is training quite well now,” Ferguson said. “He is a lot closer now but he is not in contention for tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Meanwhile, with United having suffered a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of third division Leeds, Ferguson said he would include some senior players in his team to play City despite having used the tournament in the past as an opportunity to blood young talents.

“I have got to think about getting a mix in terms of the programme we have got and also the fact I have given young players a game in the past,” he said.

“I will have a strongish team but there will be some young players as well.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Fulham striker Zamora facing injury lay-off

January 6, 2010


Fulham are on Wednesday sweating on the results of a scan on top scorer Bobby Zamora, who is facing a lay-off of at least several weeks after suffering a serious-looking injury in the 3-2 defeat at Stoke.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is resigned to being without his leading striker for some time after he suffered what was initially thought to be a dislocation of either the collar bone or his shoulder.

“Either way it is a bad injury,” said Hodgson, who also saw influential Norwegian centre-back Brede Hangeland forced off at half-time.

“It was a very expensive day for us,” Hodgson added. “We were forced to replace Hangeland at half-time with a recurrence of his knee injury and we lost Zamora early in the second half and we have also lost the game.”

Zamora has scored 11 goals in all competitions for Fulham this season, including six in his last seven games.

Hodgson added: “Andy Johnson dislocated his collar bone and he made a swift recovery and was back on the field in three weeks.

“Having said that, for the injury to heal fully it takes longer because as a forward you?re always being buffeted around and you can?t protect it as well as you would like.”

Stoke seized control of Tuesday’s encounter at the Britannia Stadium after Tuncay Sanli had headed them into an early lead and further strikes from Abdoulaye Faye and Mamady Sidibe gave them a commanding three-goal advantage by half-time.

Ireland winger Damien Duff pulled a goal back for Fulham just after the hour mark and a Clint Dempsey strike five minutes from time made things frantic at the end, but Stoke were able to hold out for a win that lifts them to tenth in the table, a place and three points behind their visitors.

“I thought we did well to come out in the second half after conceding those disastrous goals in the first half,” Hodgson reflected.

“I didn’t think we were particularly out-played in the first half but 3-0 in any league is a very difficult deficit to come back from.

“I thought we gave it our best shot and I just wish the game had gone on for another 10 minutes – who knows, we might have sneaked one in.”

Stoke’s victory was their first since in the league since November 22 and ended a run of six league matches without a win, in which they had failed to score in all but one.

“I thought it was a very good first-half performance and we could have scored more goals to be honest,” said manager Tony Pulis.

“We really pressed them in and got after them and I thought we did really well and looked tight together.

“Fair play to Fulham in the second half, they came out and pushed bodies forward and made it nervous for us.”

LONDON (AFP)

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Fulham suffers injury blows

January 6, 2010


The loss against Stoke City (3-2) wasn’t the only setback for Roy Hodgson. The Fulham boss had to watch in despair how striker Bobby Zamora and centre half Brede Hangeland left the pitch with an injury. Zamora’s injury seems serious.

Zamora, who has scored 11 goals this season, was hurt following a challenge by Abdoulaye Faye.

“It is a dislocation – I don’t know whether it is a collarbone or a shoulder but either way it is a bad injury,” said Hodgson.

“It is a very expensive day for us,” said the Fulham manager after the match. “We were forced to replace Brede Hangeland at half-time with a recurrence of his knee injury and we lost Zamora early in the second half.

“It is very disappointing because Bobby is playing so well, we can only hope it doesn’t keep him out for too long.

“I don’t know what the diagnosis is going to be, we will have to wait for the scans.”

Fulham were 3-0 down at half-time but the Cottagers improved after the break, with goals from Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey making it a frantic finish at the Britannia Stadium.

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Ferguson confident Ferdinand on way back

January 1, 2010


Sir Alex Ferguson believes Rio Ferdinand is finally winning his battle against injury after the England defender stepped up his training with Manchester United.

Ferdinand has made just five league appearances for United this season and has not played since the defeat against Liverpool in late October because of a persistent back injury.

United have struggled with major injury concerns among their defenders recently and, although the problems are now easing, Ferguson revealed on Thursday that Irish international defender John O’Shea could be absent for a further two months.

But Ferdinand has been running in training and suffered no reaction, the first positive sign in his recuperation.

In his absence English champions United have still maintained a title challenge and a 5-0 thrashing of Wigan at Old Trafford on Wednesday left them just two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Ferdinand’s fellow centre-half Jonny Evans is at a slightly advanced stage in his own comeback and Ferguson predicts his return within ten days although the United manager is unwilling to put a precise date on Ferdinand’s availability.

“We will see how Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans progress,” said Ferguson.

“If they come through the physical work then they will go onto the football side. Jonny has been involved on the football side for a few days.

“Rio is not near that but there is no recurrence of the back problem with the running he’s doing which is good news.

“That’s the moment you?re waiting for. He’s come through that running and the training, he’s doing the programme in the gym, which is good.

“At the moment it’s looking very hopeful.

“We do not have a date in mind but, hopefully, it?s not too far away and the signs are looking good. Jonny (Evans) should be back within the next ten days, he?s doing well.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson has conceded that O’Shea’s thigh injury remains a concern and the Ireland defender could face a further two months on the sidelines after suffering a haematoma to his thigh on international duty in the World Cup play-off against France in mid-November.

“He is showing no signs at all of recovery,” said Ferguson.

“It’s his first ever injury at the club and he is a big loss because he was so versatile. He could play any position for us and now we’ve just got to get him back, it doesn’t matter when. But it could be another couple of months.”

However, with Gary Neville expected to be involved in Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie against Leeds, United’s immediate defensive crisis, which at one stage saw eight senior defenders out injured, has passed.

The return of Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown to the centre of United’s defence for the recent victories against Hull and Wigan has shown the value of having experience back in the team, according to the manager.

“You can see the difference it makes to the team, when you have two centre-backs back,” said Ferguson, who celebrated his 68th birthday on Thursday.

“You saw with Vidic and Brown, the stability and strength they bring to the back is going to be important.

“The second half of the season doesn’t hold any fears for us. We have got the squad, we hope we have everyone available and we have the confidence we can handle what’s coming up over the next few months.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Rush tells Liverpool fans to back Benitez

October 22, 2009


Liverpool great Ian Rush has urged supporters to row in behind under-fire boss Rafael Benitez as the Spaniard prepares his struggling side for Sunday’s home clash with bitter rivals Manchester United.

Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat by Lyon here at Anfield meant Liverpool had lost four games in a row for the first time since 1987 and left the five-times European champions struggling to qualify for the knockout phase.

The fact that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard suffered a recurrence of his groin injury 24 minutes into the Lyon match, while injured Spain striker Fernando Torres didn’t play at all because of a groin problem, also led to fresh criticism of Benitez for allowing the club to become over-reliant on their two star players.

It is 19 years since Liverpool last won the English title and pressure is building on Benitez, in charge at Anfield since 2004.

He guided the Reds to their fifth European Cup crown in 2005 but that success is receding into the memory of fans who’ve seen their side lose four of their nine league matches so far this season, including last weekend’s 1-0 beach ball assisted defeat by Sunderland, to lie seven points behind leaders and reigning champions United.

But former Wales striker Rush, a key member of the Liverpool side that dominated English football during the 1980s, told Sky Sports here on Wednesday: “Right now is the time when you need to get behind the manager, and the players as well.

“I’m sure the supporters will do on Sunday but then it’s up to the players to respond. The manager can only pick a team. It’s up to the players to respond on the pitch.

“Okay, we lost against Lyon but we can still qualify for the second phase of the Champions League. It’s when you can’t do that, then you maybe start looking (at the manager),” Rush added.

A boost for Benitez was that England defender Glen Johnson, who missed the Lyon match, is set to return against United, who lost 2-1 at Anfield last season in a match where neither Gerrard nor Torres started.

Despite Liverpool’s recent run of results, Benitez’s position does not appear under immediate threat if only because of the boardroom spat between the club’s feuding American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Hicks has been a strong supporter of Benitez, who signed a new four-year contract in March, while Gillett has criticised the former Valencia manager’s spending this season.

Both men would have to agree to the sacking of Benitez and, given their frosty relationship, that seems unlikely.

Meanwhile former Liverpool manager Roy Evans said the players, rather than Benitez, “had to look at themselves”.

Evans, whose four-year spell in charge ended in 1998, admitted: “The results have put a lot of pressure on.

“But they are still in the Champions League and can still get second place (in the group), but there has to be an improvement, that’s for sure.

“Rafa has always been tactically very strong in Europe, but when you lose your best players, like Gerrard, Torres and Johnson, that is a real problem.

“Without them Liverpool struggle to compete, with them they are a good bet to recover their position in the group.

“You cannot always blame the manager, players have to improve,” added Evans.

“A good result will change everything. A win against Manchester United could be the victory that gives Liverpool their confidence back.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

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Ferdinand out of England squad

June 2, 2009


LONDON (AFP) – Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been ruled out of England’s squad to face Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier in the central Asian republic on Saturday.

England boss Fabio Capello called up Bolton’s Gary Cahill as cover at centreback after Ferdinand failed to recover sufficiently from a recurrence of the calf injury which had kept him out of action for three weeks prior to United’s Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

Capello is already without his first-choice goalkeeper, David James, for the trip to Kazakhstan and the meeting with Andorra at Wembley on June 10.

Cahill’s call-up came as a surprise with the 23-year-old benefiting from the fact that Everton’s Phil Jagielka is currently sidelined by injury.

“I was at home and I got a phone call from the FA (Football Association) saying that they wanted me in the squad,” Cahill said.

“I’ve had to get a few tools together – the boots and the shin pads – and now I am really looking forward to the opportunity.

Tottenham skipper Ledley King, whose call-up in March caused controversy as he cannot play matches in quick succession because of a chronic knee problem, would have been another option but he could only have played in one of the two qualifiers.

Cahill is unlikely to start in Kazakhstan with Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott both available to partner captain John Terry in the centre of defence.

Having won their opening five matches in group six, England can move to the brink of qualifying for next year’s finals in South Africa by taking maximum points from the two upcoming qualifiers.

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Celtic reclaim edge in Scottish title battle as Rangers held

May 14, 2009


GLASGOW (AFP) – Rangers handed the initiative in the Scottish Premier League title battle back to Celtic after being held to a 1-1 draw at Hibs on Wednesday.

Derek Riordan fired Hibs into a first-half lead and Rangers had to rely on substitute Nacho Novo to earn them a point, ten minutes from time at Easter Road.

The draw leaves Celtic top of the table on goal difference with both clubs having two more games to play.

Celtic had reclaimed top spot with a 2-1 defeat of Dundee United on Tuesday and former Hoops striker Riordan helped his old club out with a superb strike to give Hibs a first-half lead.

Rangers looked to have run out of luck when the referee controversially adjudged the ball had not completely crossed the line from a Novo shot in the second-half.

But the Spaniard popped up with ten minutes left to scramble home an equaliser and keep Rangers behind Celtic on goal difference in the race for the championship.

Rangers boss Walter Smith was forced to make one change to the side that defeated Celtic in the Old Firm derby on Sunday with Andrius Velicka replacing Kenny Miller, who had a recurrence of his hamstring injury.

Rangers, who scored after only two minutes in their last visit to Easter Road, pushed forward in numbers looking for another early goal.

The first real chance fell to Steven Davis after Kris Boyd drew a foul from John Rankin 25 yards from goal. The Northern Ireland midfielder stepped up but curled his effort just wide of the post.

With 20 minutes gone, Portuguese international Pedro Mendes collected the ball on the left and fired in a thunderbolt strike which keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay was glad to see fizz past the post.

Rangers lacked urgency in their forward surges and it was Hibs who took the lead through a touch of quality from former Celtic striker Riordan.

The Gers defence was static as Rankin and Steven Fletcher combined to play in Riordan, who took a touch before curling a superb shot into the top right-hand corner past the helpless Neil Alexander from the edge of the box.

Novo and Kyle Lafferty replaced the ineffectual Velicka and Steven Smith at half-time and immediately had an impact in increasing the tempo of Rangers’ play.

With 50 minutes gone, the Spaniard broke quickly down the right and Boyd met his cross with a diving header which lacked pace and was easily saved by Ma-Kalambay.

Novo then had two golden chances to get Rangers on level terms.

Lafferty found the striker unmarked ten yards out with a cross from the left but he blazed his first-time effort over the bar.

Former Hibs player Steven Whittaker then showed great skill down the left-wing to break into the box and set the ball up for Novo who skewed his shot wide of the right-hand post.

In the 55th minute, Rankin found himself with room in the box but couldn’t keep his powerful effort on target and didn’t trouble Alexander.

Hibs had Belgian keeper Ma-Kalambay to thank for keeping them level when he pulled off a magnificent save from a Davis shot from the edge of the box which looked destined for the top corner.

Controversy arrived in the 70th minute when a Novo shot from just yards out appeared to cross the line before Ross Chisholm hooked his clearance away but the referee waved away the Rangers protests.

Riordan should have had his second after a mistake by Madjid Bougherra in the box but he drilled his shot into the ground and Alexander saved.

Novo scrambled home an equaliser with ten minutes remaining.

A Bougherra cross from the right was headed down by Christian Dailly to Lafferty whose effort was saved, but Novo slid in to prod the ball past Ma-Kalambay.

Novo could have clinched it late on but sent his header straight at the keeper.

Falkirk moved off bottom place with a 1-0 win over Hamilton with St Mirren replacing them in the relegation zone following a 2-1 defeat by Kilmarnock. Motherwell drew 2-2 with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

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Miller blow for Rangers title hopes

May 13, 2009


GLASGOW (AFP) – Rangers’ hopes of clinching their first Scottish Premier League title since 2005 suffered a setback on Wednesday when it was revealed that Kenny Miller has again succumbed to a hamstring problem.

The Scotland forward was ruled out of Wednesday evening’s trip to Hibs and manager Walter Smith could not be certain that his leading striker would be available for the clash with Aberdeen on Saturday.

“He’s had a recurrence of his hamstring problem but I’m hopeful that if he gets a couple of days’ rest he will be okay for Aberdeen on Saturday,” Smith reported.

“I was hoping Kenny might go injury-free until the end of the season, but he has been feeling the soreness again in that area, so it looks like he will miss out. It’s a nerve problem he’s got.

“He’s on medication, which is keeping him going until the end of the season, but that is not going to solve the problem.

“He will have to get it looked at in the close season and, hopefully, they can do something about it.”

The injury could not have come at a worse time for Rangers, who will reclaim the SPL title from Celtic if they win their remaining three matches.

It could also be bad news for Scotland coach George Burley. If Miller is forced to have surgery at the end of the season his involvement in a crucial World Cup qualifier in Norway in early August could be in doubt.

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Gerrard on course for Chelsea clash

April 13, 2009

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LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) – Steven Gerrard is on track to lead Liverpool in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Chelsea after the England midfielder returned to training on Monday.

Gerrard was rested by boss Rafael Benitez for Saturday’s 4-0 win over Blackburn at Anfield following scans that showed a recurrence of the Liverpool skipper’s groin injury.

But Benitez confirmed on Monday that Gerrard was responding to treatment and will travel to London as Liverpool try to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg.

“Steven is getting better, he has been working with the physio and will train on Monday,” Benitez said.

“We will then discuss the situation with the doctors, but Steven will travel with the party to London and I will make a decision on Tuesday.”

Benitez knows Liverpool’s hopes of a famous win at Stamford Bridge would be boosted by Gerrard and he is ready to take a calculated risk.

He said: “Obviously we do not want him to break down again, he could then be out for 10 to 16 days. But the injury is not a massive one, it will be a calculated gamble to play him but one that I will consider.

“We are 3-1 down and we know that everything can change if we have Steven in the side and he plays well.”

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One goal will win it for us, warns Wenger

February 25, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Arsene Wenger has warned Roma that Arsenal only need one goal to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Wenger’s side will travel to Rome for the last 16 second leg clash on March 11 with a slender advantage after Robin van Persie’s first half penalty clinched a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Following three consecutive goalless draws in the Premier League this was the sort of poised, passionate performance that Wenger has been waiting for from his team of precocious talents.

Even without Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Eduardo, Emmanuel Adebayor and Andrei Arshavin, they still stretched Roma’s defence time and again.

The only flaw was their failure to add to van Persie’s 37th minute spot-kick, awarded for a Philippe Mexes foul on the Dutch striker.

Nicklas Bendtner was guilty of two glaring misses and Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue will also feel they should at least have hit the target with chances that came their way.

But the Gunners manager took heart from the way his team dominated for long periods and he believes their vibrant display proved they are more than capable of scoring the vital away goal at the Stadio Olympico that would tip the tie in their favour.

"It puts us in a position where we know we need to attack over there. If we score once that should be enough," Wenger said.

"You never know what a good result is in the European Cup but our pace gave them problems in the first half and in the first 20 minutes of the second half we had one chance after another.

"Of course there was room to score more but one of the positives is we didn’t concede a goal.

"The next game will be an interesting one because they will throw much more forward."

Wenger’s only concern is that his squad – already stretched to breaking point by injuries to Fabregas and company – could be hit by further problems before the trip to Italy.

Abou Diaby limped off in the second half with a recurrence of a calf injury and Arsenal still have league games against Fulham and West Bromwich Albion, as well as an FA Cup clash with Burnley in the next 10 days.

"We have three more games between this tie and the second leg. At the speed we lose players it can be a difficulty for us," Wenger said.

"I am scared that we lost Diaby because he has a calf problem. Will anybody we back? We don’t know. Could be Adebayor, maybe Eduardo but we are short in midfield at the moment."

The least Wenger should be able to expect in Rome is to see his team begin the match with 11 men on the pitch.

In an embarrassing start to the second half on Tuesday, Arsenal kicked off with nine men after William Gallas and Kolo Toure were late returning to the field.

Both were back in action within seconds of the restart but that wasn’t quick enough to stop Danish referee Claus Bo Larsen booking Toure for his tardiness.

Wenger claimed the mistake was due to the Ivorian’s desire to be the last player out of the dressing room.

"It’s explainable by the fact that Kolo always goes out last. He waited for William but didn’t know William had treatment," Wenger said.

"He didn’t know the game had started without them. He was putting on his boots.

"I don’t know if it is superstition. It is our fault. You have to be ready when the bell rings."

Although Roma were out-classed for much of the match, their manager Luciano Spalletti knows they are a different animal in their own environment.

The Italians have already beaten Chelsea at home this season and Spalletti expects a far more impressive effort from his team.

"I feel confident to say we have the same chances as Arsenal, maybe 49 percent for us and 51 for Arsenal because they have the goal," he said.

"But we can create chances and I’m sure it will be a completely different game in the second leg.

"I think the result is quite good considering the different between the teams in the first half.

"We should be completely different in everything compared to what we showed here."

Written by: AFP

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