Soccer Shorts: Senior Republic of Ireland players have warned they will not tolerate any further delay in the naming of a permanent successor to Steve Staunton after their narrow defeat to Brazil on Wednesday night.
Midfielder Lee Carsley has warned it is imperative that the situation is sorted out soon so the squad can begin building towards the crucial kick-off of their World Cup 2010 qualifier in Georgia in September. Carsley said: "Whoever is picking the manager has had enough time now. There are enough candidates and we'd be better off if we named one of them. This might well only have been a friendly but we are preparing for a massive campaign so we need someone in sooner rather than later. Hopefully there will be an announcement this week."
Meanwhile Reading's in-form midfielder Stephen Hunt expressed his frustration at the extended caretaker regime after once again having to settle for a place on the bench at Croke Park. "I thought I might start with the way I'm playing at the moment," said Hunt. "I'm disappointed. Some of the excuses I was given were a bit iffy to be honest. But we've got to look forward to the new man and the future."
Miller absence a blow for Keane
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has been dealt yet another injury blow with the news midfielder Liam Miller could be out of action for a month. The 26-year-old damaged a calf muscle in the Republic of Ireland's midweek defeat to Brazi.
Miller failed to reappear after the break at Croke Park and later revealed the initial prognosis was that the injury was not too serious, but that he could be out of action for three weeks.
That could hardly have come at a worse time for Keane, whose side face Wigan at the Stadium of Light on Saturday hoping a fourth successive Premier League home win will further ease their relegation fears. Miller's absence leaves Keane with a selection headache in central midfield as Dwight Yorke also has a calf problem, Grant Leadbitter is out with a broken toe and Kieran Richardson aggravated a hamstring injury on his return to action last Saturday. New signing Andy Reid is still working his way back to full match fitness.
Torres suffers hamstring tear
Liverpool have confirmed Fernando Torres has suffered a hamstring tear and is set be sidelined for 10 days. The 23-year-old limped out of Spain's 1-0 win over France on Wednesday and a subsequent scan revealed the extent of the damage. Torres is set to miss Liverpool's trip to Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, their FA Cup clash with Barnsley on February 16th, but should be fit to face Inter Milan in the Champions League on February 19th.
United track Bosingwa
Manchester United have contacted Porto about Jose Bosingwa, the overlapping full-back who is regarded at Old Trafford as a possible replacement for Gary Neville. The Portugal defender will not come cheaply, with Porto's president Pinto da Costa saying it would need an offer of at least €33.5 million to persuade him to sell the Congo-born 25-year-old.
Hartson hangs up boots
Former Celtic striker John Hartson has announced his retirement after being released by West Brom last month. The 32-year-old, who won 50 caps for Wales, began his career at Luton and went on to have spells with Arsenal, West Ham, Wimbledon and Coventry, and a loan stint at Norwich.
Second defeat for Irish
The Republic of Ireland's under-19s lost for the second time this week against the Czech Republic, 2-0, in a friendly at Whitehall last night. Czech captain Petr Wojnar scored the opening goal with a free-kick hit from 25 yards eight minutes before half-time. After Ireland's Paul Cahillane shot tamely at the goalkeeper nine minutes from time, the visitors wrapped up the game with a goal through Tomas Faban with two minutes left.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: J McKeown (Peterborough United), J Kelly (Reading), G Donoghue (Sunderland), S Sharkey (Derry City), I Bermingham (UCD), P Cahillane (Celtic), M Spillane (Norwich City), M Daly (Manchester City), D Earls (Aston Villa), D Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur), C Fagan (Manchester United). Subs: A Lynch (Bohemians) and R Harkin (Charlton Athletic) for Fagan and Earls (46 mins), G Carey (Celtic) for Hutton (74 mins), D McDaid (Derry City) for Cahillane (85 mins).
CZECH REPUBLIC: M Barta; R Brunclik, O Celustka, P Wojnar, V Polak, P Dvorak, T Faban, M Holek, T Nuc, P Dreska, P Reinberk.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
Tonight's soccer: English Football League Championship: Charlton v Crystal Palace
