Claude Makelele has dampened the furore over his selection by France, describing the claims by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho that he was being treated like "a slave" as excessive and emphasising that he takes great pride in playing for his country.
The midfielder is believed to have verbally agreed with Mourinho last year he would retire from international football after this summer's World Cup but will now continue with France, whose opening Euro 2008 qualifiers come against Georgia on Saturday and Italy next Wednesday.
Makelele's call-up was described by Mourinho as going against the player's will, and Chelsea have said they will talk to the French Football Federation.
"My coach's [ Mourinho's] words are a bit too strong, he's probably gone too far," Makelele said. "But his disappointment is logical. There was an agreement after the World Cup I would retire. But I spoke with the French team coach and he believes I am still able to bring something extra to the team.
"I don't blame him [ Raymond Domenech] for anything and I will go back and play with France."
Mourinho also said Makelele had to accept the call-up, claiming for every France game the midfielder refused to play in, he would be forced to miss two Chelsea matches. A similar threat was first raised by Domenech but a Fifa spokesman yesterday confirmed the regulations merely stated that a refusenik international cannot turn out for his club during the period of the release or for five days afterwards.
Mido is expected to return to Tottenham in a permanent deal from Roma after the clubs yesterday agreed a fee of €5 million for the 23-year-old, who spent 18 months on loan at White Hart Lane, and are ready to send Brazilian defender Rodrigo Defendi to the Serie A club as part of the transfer.
Tottenham will have to move swiftly to stand a chance of signing Steed Malbranque from Fulham after West Ham yesterday agreed a €3 million fee for the midfielder.
The deal is subject to a medical and it is conceivable Tottenham will make a late attempt to snatch the midfielder, for whom they have had one offer turned down.
Bolton striker Kevin Davies has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone. The 29-year-old sustained the injury when elbowed by Hermann Hreidarsson in Saturday's defeat at Charlton.
Davies will have an operation today to determine the extent of the injury. Hreidarsson was sent off but Davies was later shown the red card following a separate incident involving Amady Faye.
Gordon Strachan is on the verge of making his eighth signing of the summer, after Thomas Gravesen held talks with the Celtic manager in Glasgow yesterday.
The arrival of the Real Madrid midfielder will offset the imminent departure from Parkhead of Stilian Petrov, who is expected to join Aston Villa this week. Celtic will receive upwards of €7.5 million for Petrov and save on the wages of the Scottish Premier League's highest-paid player, who earns about €47,000 a week.
Strachan also learned yesterday that the season's first Old Firm match, at Parkhead on September 23rd, will kick-off at 12.30.
Scans have offered no conclusive proof that Rio Ferdinand broke a toe in Manchester United's weekend Premiership victory at Watford.
Anthony Stokes and Gary Dicker have been drafted into Don Givens' Republic of Ireland squad for Friday's Under-21 European Championship qualifying game against Greece in Terryland Park. The pair replace Darron Gibson and Jay Tabb who have had to withdraw with knee and hernia problems respectively.
Stokes, meanwhile, is on the verge of completing a one-year loan move from Arsenal to Scottish Premier League outfit Falkirk. The young striker had previously trained with Sunderland.
