Souness on spying mission
While his position as Newcastle United manager remains precarious, Graeme Souness was focusing on the job in hand last night, however temporary it may be (George Caulkin writes). The Scot attended the LDV Vans Trophy southern semi-final between Cheltenham Town — Newcastle’s FA Cup fourth-round opponents on Saturday — and Colchester United.
Souness emerged from a meeting with Freddy Shepherd on Monday insisting that his chairman was “behind me”. That has more to do with their failure to agree an exit strategy — Souness refuses to countenance resignation while Shepherd is reluctant to compensate him for dismissal — than any genuine measure of support. Defeat by Cheltenham at Whaddon Road would surely bring an end to Souness’s 16-month tenure at St James’ Park, but there is better news on the injury front. Scott Parker, the England midfield player, Emre Belözoglu and Shola Ameobi have returned to full training and all could be involved on Saturday.
Drogba on target
Didier Drogba scored his second goal in two games to help Ivory Coast to reach the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations yesterday with a 2-1 win over Libya. The Chelsea striker took advantage of one of two costly errors by Muftah Ghzalla, the Libya goalkeeper, to put Ivory Coast ahead after ten minutes, Ghzalla having fumbled a shot from Arouna Kone. Libya equalised in the 41st minute through a header by Abdelsalam Khamis, but 15 minutes from time, Ghzalla missed a cross and Yaya Toure headed the winner.
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Bernard Tapie, the former Marseilles president, has taken legal action over articles suggesting that players were given illegal substances before the 1993 European Cup final, his lawyers said last night. Jean-Jacques Eydelie, who played in the 1-0 win over AC Milan, alleged that the players received an injection before the match. Tapie has begun proceedings against Eydelie, L’Equipe and its editor.