United relief as Rooney gets away with suspected sprain March 31, 2010 MANCHESTER United defender Nemanja Vidic insists the club’s challenge for silverware will not be stymied by Wayne Rooney’s suspected sprained ankle. Rooney is expected to be out for three to four weeks after limping off during United’s Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich on Tuesday. In that time the striker, who has scored 34 goals [...]
Arsenal are right to be encouraged March 31, 2010 THEY may have been mesmerised at times by Barcelona’s movement and technical ability, but, bizarrely, Arsenal will actually come out of this first leg feeling just as encouraged as the current European champions – even despite the loss of Cesc Fabregas. Two-nil down and seemingly out of the tie, Arsene Wenger’s men showed they can [...]
Young gun Kies gets the March 31, 2010 ENGLAND have put their faith in batting sensation Craig Kieswetter playing a leading role in next month’s ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. The Somerset starlet has been handed the gloves as England’s sole wicketkeeper at the expense of Matt Prior, who is left out of the 15-man squad, captained by Paul Collingwood. South African-born [...]
‘I’ll take his head off’ warns fired-up Haye March 31, 2010 ULTRA-confident David Haye says he plans to take John Ruiz’s head off when he makes his first heavyweight title defence against the American on Saturday. The Hayemaker has been unusually quiet in the build-up to the Manchester showdown, but exploded back into life in familiar fashion yesterday, just 72 hours before stepping into the ring. [...]
Saints and Sarries at war over Soane March 31, 2010 PREMIERSHIP rivals Northampton and Saracens are at war over Soane Tonga’uiha after the Tongan international sensationally reneged on a deal to join Sarries for next season. The 28-year-old prop signed an agreement to join the Vicarage Road club back in January, but has now changed his mind and reopened contract negotiations with the Saints. But [...]
Alonso taken aback by his flying start March 31, 2010 COMBINING a two-time world champion with the most famous team in motor racing was always going to be a potent mix, but Fernando Alonso insists he is surprised by just how well he has begun life at Ferrari. The Spaniard leads the drivers’ standings after two races – a win in Bahrain followed by fourth [...]
Durham on top as pink ball takes effect March 31, 2010 IAN BLACKWELL and Scott Borthwick both took three wickets as county champions Durham closed in on victory after day three of their floodlit county season opener with an MCC XI in Abu Dhabi. Durham declared their second innings on 228-6 thanks to an unbeaten stand of 125 between Callum Thorp (79no) and Kyle Coetzer (52no). This gave [...]
Davis Cup won’t affect funding March 31, 2010 TENNIS: Funding for the Lawn Tennis Association will not be reduced despite the embarrassing Davis Cup defeat to Lithuania last month. An All-Party Tennis Group report criticised the governing body for a lack of performance this week, but Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe confirmed the £26m investment will continue. “[We need to] help address some of [...]
Olympic squad set to rise to 500 March 31, 2010 OLYMPICS: Great Britain look set to be represented by their biggest ever Olympic squad when the Games come to London in 2012. Subject to funding approval, Olympic chiefs hope a squad of over 500 athletes will turn out for Team GB – an increase on the 311 sent to the Beijing Games in 2008. “We [...]
Gosling faces nine-month lay-off March 31, 2010 FOOTBALL: Everton’s young midfielder Dan Gosling is out for up to nine months after rupturing a cruciate knee ligament during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Wolves. The 20-year-old was hurt in an accidental clash with Wolves keeper Marcus Hahnemann. Everton physio Mick Rathbone said: “Our worst fears have been confirmed.”