PHIL’S ABSENCE A PAIN IN THE NECK October 20, 2009 WASPS prop Phil Vickery has added to England’s list of casualties after becoming the latest player to be ruled out of the autumn internationals with injury. The former captain, 33, requires neck surgery and will be out for at least three months. The news comes just 24 hours after England lost fellow forward Andrew Sheridan [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF October 20, 2009 Leics close in on Hoggard CRICKET: Former England seamer Matthew Hoggard has been offered a three-year deal with Leicestershire after being released by Yorkshire last month.Hoggard, 32, held talks Leicestershire coach Tim Boon and chief executive David Smith on Monday, but is also weighing up interest from Kent. Smith, however, said: “We are in the [...]
BRANSON PLANS SPACE-AGE PARTY AS BUTTON BRINGS HOME THE GOLD October 19, 2009 RICHARD Branson may have revealed that he’s unlikely to stump up the cash to sponsor Formula One team Brawn GP again next year after its spectacular season, but it doesn’t mean the canny entrepreneur is stepping back his involvement now that the team has won the championship. The Virgin tycoon was unable to make it [...]
Weary champ Button won’t be pushed on contract talk October 19, 2009 NEWLY-CROWNED world champion Jenson Button has put talks over his future on ice in order to savour his fairytale success. The British driver clinched his maiden title by putting in a superb performance to finish fifth in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix. But the 29-year-old’s future at F1 newcomers Brawn GP remains in doubt, with the [...]
Brawn: I too doubted Button talent October 19, 2009 JENSON BUTTON finally silenced his doubters by clinching a maiden world championship on Sunday, but his boss Ross Brawn has admitted that he too needed to be convinced of the Englishman’s ability. Button failed to realise youthful promise during his first nine years in F1, winning just a single grand prix from 155 attempts and [...]
Let’s make it tough but fair, insists Wenger October 19, 2009 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger maintains there is a place for tough tackling in English football – but is calling for dangerous challenges to be stamped out. The Gunners make the trip to Holland for tonight’s Champions League clash with AZ Alkmaar without winger Theo Walcott, who suffered knee ligament damage following a hefty challenge from [...]
Benitez: Gerrard will lead Reds charge October 19, 2009 BOSS Rafael Benitez is backing fit-again Steven Gerrard to lead Liverpool’s Champions League charge at Anfield tonight. The Reds welcome back their inspirational skipper for the visit of French side Lyon, but Benitez must again do without star striker Fernando Torres, who has a groin injury. Like Torres, Gerrard missed Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, [...]
Tigers tamed as Fulham pair find their feet October 19, 2009 FULHAM (2) vs HULL CITY (0) FULHAM boss Roy Hodgson hailed his strike pair after the Cottagers returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory over Hull City. Hodgson’s front men have hardly hit the ground running so far this season, but a welcome strike from Bobby Zamora and a first of the season for [...]
Given lambasts seed system as Ireland land France tie October 19, 2009 GOALKEEPER Shay Given has hit out once again over Fifa’s decision to seed the play-offs after his Republic of Ireland side were handed the toughest possible draw in their bid to qualify for the World Cup. Giovanni Trapattoni’s side take on 1998 world champions France in a two-legged play-off on 14 and 18 November with [...]
Eriksson and Hodgson in running for Sweden role October 19, 2009 SWEDISH chiefs have sounded out former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fulham manager Roy Hodgson about becoming national coach. Eriksson, now director of football at Notts County, is the frontrunner and the country’s governing body the SvFF hope to make an appointment before the middle of next month. However, Cottagers chief Hodgson, who enjoyed successful [...]