A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Gerrard will be returning to action for Blackpool clash
LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard will return to action against Blackpool on St Stephen’s Day after manager Roy Hodgson confirmed he is now fit.
The 30-year-old midfielder has been out since tearing a hamstring in England’s friendly against France on November 17th.
He would have played against Fulham at the weekend had the fixture not been postponed because of heavy snow in the Merseyside area.
Hodgson has received a second boost after defender Daniel Agger was deemed to have recovered from a complex calf problem which has sidelined him for the Reds since September 25th.
“It is a big boost to have Gerrard back going into five games in 15 days,” said the manager.
“It is a season-changing period for every team in the Premier League.
“He would have been fit to play against Fulham as well. It doesn’t hurt to have an extra week to get some training in but what he needs now is matches.
Baines dismisses Bayern move talk
LEIGHTON Baines yesterday insisted he had no desire to leave Everton for Bayern Munich next month, having only recently committed to a new five-year contract at Goodison Park.
The left back has been linked with a €10.5 million move to the German champions and impressed again in front of Bayern’s sporting director, Christian Nerlinger, in the 2-1 win at Manchester City on Monday.
Everton manager David Moyes has said he will not consider an offer for Baines and the 26-year-old has now also ruled out a transfer to the Bundesliga: “I don’t know too much about it,” he said. “I am just concentrating on trying to play for Everton. I have just signed a new contract. I tied myself to the club in the summer and have no intention of leaving. I am completely focused on what I am doing here.”
He dismissed claims that potential homesickness lay behind Fabio Capello’s decision to omit him from England’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup.
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Dzeko says City move unlikely
WOLFSBURG striker Edin Dzeko admits he is unlikely to move to Manchester City in January.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina frontman has been strongly linked with a big-money move to Eastlands in the transfer window as a replacement for out-of-favour Emmanuel Adebayor.
But asked in an interview with Sport Bild if he would stay at Wolfsburg until the summer at the least, Dzeko said: “That is up to Wolfsburg. But at the moment it looks like I am staying.”
Vermaelen return further delayed
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger yesterday revealed Thomas Vermaelen would be sidelined for another month.
Key defender Vermaelen has been missing since August with an Achilles injury that was initially thought to have ruled him out for a matter of days.
Wenger confirmed two weeks ago the Belgium international would return in January but has now decided to delay his comeback until the end of that month.
“I would rather say late January,” said Wenger, whose side have struggled defensively in Vermaelen’s absence. He is short on fitness and we have to build it up. That will take three to four weeks.
“He has started now and the signs are good. But I have been hit so many times with backlash that I am very cautious with Vermaelen.”
Wenger confirmed, however, that Kieran Gibbs, out for two weeks with an ankle problem, could return in early January.
Bernstein wants English boss next
DAVID Bernstein, the man chosen to be the new Football Association chairman, insists there is “a national desire” for the next England manager to be English.
The job of selecting Fabio Capello’s successor – the Italian has stated he will move on after the Euro 2012 finals in 18 months’ time – will be top of the list of Bernstein’s tasks.
The 67-year-old former Manchester City chairman, currently chairman of Wembley and director of a number of large clothing retailers, was the surprise nomination by the FA board yesterday.
Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein had been viewed as the front-runner but the nominations committee headed by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside chose Bernstein, with the main difference being his company boardroom experience.
Barton insists he's happy to stay put
NEWCASTLE midfielder Joey Barton has laughed off speculation he could leave the club next month and insisted he would be happy to see out his career on Tyneside.
The 28-year-old has been linked with both West Ham and Aston Villa in recent days, with some reports suggesting he could be available for as little as €1.75 million. But Barton, who joined the Magpies for €6.8 million from Manchester City in June 2007, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I was actually laughing about it this morning, saying that I thought €1.75 million was a little bit cheap and if I was them, I would ask for more, and we had a good giggle about it.
“I have been on record as saying I want to stay here for the rest of my career. Nothing has happened and no-one has told me otherwise, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s what’s going to happen.”
