Category: News

17 August 2014 09:20

Nigel Pearson expects Chris Wood to remain at Leicester City, despite intense speculation regarding his future.

The New Zealand international striker was a target for Championship club Wolves during this week, but the two clubs were unable to agree a deal and Pearson is adamant he wants to stay.

And Wood picked the perfect time to showcase his commitment to the Leicester cause as he came off the bench to score a later equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Everton on Saturday on the opening day of the Premier League season.

“He is staying,” said Pearson.

“In terms of that story [the potential transfer to Wolves], we’ve not fanned the fire.

“It’s been a story that’s gathered speed but he’s staying here.

“I’ve spoken to him on a couple of occasions this week and he’s very happy to fight for his place. As far as I’m concerned, I draw a line under it there, I’m pleased to have him here.

“And I am very pleased he was able to play his part in securing our first point in the Premier League.”

17 August 2014 09:05

Hull City manager Steve Bruce is anticipating a difficult tie against UEFA Europa League play-off round opponents Lokeren.

Bruce has already vowed to make wholesale changes for the two-legged clash, which gets under way with the first leg in Belgium on Thursday, and he intends to adopt the policy as long as Hull are involved in the competition.

Despite looking set to field a weakened XI, Bruce, who led his side to a 1-0 win at QPR in their Premier League opener on Saturday, warned against taking the Belgian outfit lightly.

“Lokeren are a very good side,” he said. “They’re a good team from what I’ve seen and Belgium is now producing some really good players.

“It’s going to be a difficult game for us.

“As I’ve said, I’m going to change all my team round and give everybody a game to give the players who have got us into Europe the chance to play in Europe.

“I think that’s what gives us the spirit that they play with at the moment. They’re all going to get their chance.

“I had to leave people off the bench [on Saturday] – George Boyd in particular – who’ve done wonders for me, so we’ll be okay.”

Bruce also expressed his relief that striker Hamdi Harbaoui had left the Belgian club for Qatar SC last month.

17 August 2014 09:00

Arsene Wenger defended Jack Wilshere after the Arsenal midfielder sustained another bout of media criticism.

Wenger’s men secured a battling 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on the opening day of the Premier League season on Saturday, Aaron Ramsey snatching the points with a close-range strike deep into stoppage time.

By that stage, Wilshere had already been withdrawn to conclude a laboured performance, with replacement Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having a positive influence on the Arsenal midfield.

Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher were critical of the England international’s performance, claiming the return to full fitness of Germany World Cup star Mesut Ozil will leave Wilshere’s starting place in jeopardy.

Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes also questioned Wilshere’s progress last season, while persistent ankle problems have hindered the 22-year-old, who courted controversy when he was photographed smoking on holiday in Las Vegas last month.

Wenger sympathised with his player, who he revealed suffered from a sickness bug in the build-up to the Palace match, backing the playmaker to progress with his injury problems hopefully behind him.

“He was sick in the last few days and I felt he started to still miss some competitiveness,” Wenger said, explaining the substitution.

“I had options on the bench as well.

“No [the criticism is not fair]. Let’s give him games.

“For me the most important thing for him is not to have any problem with his ankle but it looks like he’s on the right way on that front.

“He looks sharper every week at the moment.”

17 August 2014 07:24

Real Salt Lake moved top of the Western Conference in MLS on Saturday as the Montreal Impact finally won again.

In the top-of-the-table clash in the west, a header from Joao Plata and an Osvaldo Alonso own goal helped Real to a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders.

The result saw Real move above the Sounders and into top spot, a point clear of Seattle – who hold two games in hand.

Luke Mulholland set up the opener at Rio Tinto Stadium as his set piece from the right found Plata to head in at the back post in the 53rd minute.

Just four minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead as Luis Gil’s smart pass was poked into his own net by Alonso under pressure from Mulholland.

Chad Barrett scrambled in a scrappy goal for Seattle in the 72nd minute, but they were unable to find an equaliser.

The Impact ended a seven-match losing run in the league with a 1-0 victory against the Chicago Fire.

Marco Di Vaio found the bottom corner from inside the area with six minutes remaining as Montreal finally got back to winning ways.

Former West Brom, Birmingham City and Aston Villa defender Liam Ridgewell scored his first MLS goal in the Portland Timbers’ 1-1 draw at New England.

The Columbus Crew thrashed the Los Angeles Galaxy 4-1 thanks to two goals in each half.

A pair of Dom Dwyer penalties in the first half helped Eastern Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City crush Toronto 4-1.

Tesho Akindele scored a hat-trick as Dallas cruised to a 5-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes.

Chivas USA and the Vancouver Whitecaps played out a 0-0 draw.

17 August 2014 04:52

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers plans to reward star attacker Raheem Sterling with an improved contract, but said he needed to be careful.

The 19-year-old is set to be given an improved deal despite having a contract with the Premier League club until mid-2018.

Rodgers said he was wary of overpaying the teenager, wanting to ensure he could keep Sterling motivated.

“It will be something that’s done, but we need to be careful,” the Northern Irishman said.

“Raheem is a kid who has propelled himself on to another level. He got rewarded for that, and that will always be the case here.

“But we have to be careful because when you reward young players too quickly, that will be their downfall.”

Rodgers believes young players in Britain earn too much too early and lose their motivation and hunger.

“It’s a big problem with British players. Why? Because the reward is no longer there, they lose their hunger,” he said.

“Young players driving about, I say driving about, they buy a new Range Rover Sports before they have even got their driving licence.”