MANCHESTER UNITED
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Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his decision to allow Giuseppe Rossi, the Italy Under-21 forward, to join Newcastle United on loan. “I told him I felt four months in the Premiership would do him good,” the United manager said.
PORTSMOUTH
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Gary O’Neil believes that the club’s annual battle against relegation will end early this season. “It took us until November to get ten points last year,” the midfield player said. “We are two months ahead of schedule so we should be safe by March.”
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EVERTON
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David Moyes could drop Joleon Lescott for Saturday’s game at home to Wigan Athletic despite hailing the defender’s display in the 3-0 win over Liverpool. “I thought Joleon was fantastic, but I’m going to rotate the players,” he said.
CHELSEA
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Khalid Boulahrouz has denied that he feels under extra pressure, having joined a club where the expectation level is so high. “For me, nothing’s changed. When I was in Hamburg, I wanted to win every game,” the defender said.
ASTON VILLA
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Gareth Barry still harbours hopes of a return for England. “I have my fingers crossed,” he said. “Sven-Göran Eriksson [the former head coach] chose not to go with me but I’ve got more chance with Steve McClaren in the hot seat.”
BOLTON WANDERERS
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Tal Ben Haim may yet extend his stay at the club despite rejecting the recent offer of a new contract. “We are speaking with the chairman and will see what is going on,” the defender, who becomes a free agent next summer, said.
FULHAM
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Jimmy Bullard’s dislocated kneecap will keep him out for two months but he does not blame Scott Parker for the injury that he sustained on Saturday. “I took the full force of his weight on my right knee,” the midfield player said.
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READING
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Simon Cox, 19, has joined Brentford on loan and is in the squad for the Coca-Cola League One match against Swansea City this evening. “Simon can score goals from midfield or attack,” Leroy Rosenior, the Brentford manager, said.
WEST HAM UNITED
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Bobby Zamora, who scored his fifth goal of the season in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday, relishes competition for places. “We have six forwards who could all play,” he said. “It’s dog eat dog, but it will make West Ham better.”
LIVERPOOL
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Harry Kewell will have another scan this week to determine when he can return from groin and thigh injuries. “We hope to know more about whether he can progress quickly or slowly,” Rafael Benítez, the manager, said.
MANCHESTER CITY
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Stuart Pearce has challenged Daniel Sturridge, the 17-year-old forward, to take advantage of Andrew Cole’s exit to Portsmouth. “It could give a real opportunity because there’s not too many in front of him,” the manager said.
MIDDLESBROUGH
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Robert Huth, the defender signed from Chelsea, is moving closer to his first Premiership appearance for Middlesbrough. Huth has been out injured after a foot operation but is set to play for the reserve team away to Sheffield United tonight.
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WIGAN ATHLETIC
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Kevin Kilbane, who joined on transfer deadline day, is certain to make his debut in Saturday’s match against his former club, Everton, at Goodison Park. The Ireland midfield player was suspended for the defeat away to Portsmouth on Saturday.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
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Scott Parker is having treatment on a knee injury before Thursday’s Uefa Cup tie against FC Levadia Tallinn. Glenn Roeder, the manager, said: “He has a chance of playing.” Celestine Babayaro and Steven Taylor are also doubtful.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
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Ledley King has given himself a clean bill of health after making his first appearance of the season in the 1-0 defeat away to Manchester United but a scan on Aaron Lennon’s knee has revealed that the winger may be out for a month.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
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Iain Dowie has praised Dennis Rommedahl, the subject of transfer speculation last month. “Some of the balls he played in against Chelsea on Saturday were as good as anything you will see,” Dowie said. “We are very pleased to have him.”
ARSENAL
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Arsène Wenger believes that his side must open the scoring if they are to start winning games. “Eighty per cent of the time the team who scores first wins the game, especially when teams come to us as they sit back,” the manager said.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
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As revealed in The Times yesterday, Brian Kidd has joined the coaching staff at Bramall Lane. “He’ll be worth his weight in gold,” Neil Warnock, the manager, said. Kidd, 57, has agreed terms until the end of the season.
BLACKBURN ROVERS
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Jason Roberts is a doubt for Thursday’s Uefa Cup first round, first-leg tie away to SV Salzburg as he struggles to overcome a groin injury that he suffered leading up to Saturday’s goalless draw with Sheffield United.
WATFORD
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Jobi McAnuff is the latest player to be linked with a move to Vicarage Road when the transfer window reopens in January. The Crystal Palace winger handed in a transfer request in the summer and Palace would find a £2 million bid hard to resist.