A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Murphy Doolin's sole league man
BRAY’S CONOR Murphy is the only League of Ireland player named yesterday in Paul Doolin’s Under-19 squad for the European Championship Elite phase qualifying tournament in Poland. They will take on the hosts, Ukraine and Italy for one place at the competition’s finals in Romania, writes Emmet Malone.
“There were some difficult calls to make in choosing the squad but I feel I’ve got the balance right in this selection,” said Doolin. “Conor put himself into contention by playing and scoring in Croatia for us in February,” he explained.
IRELAND UNDER-19 SQUAD:Seán McDermott (Arsenal), Aaron McCarey (Wolves), Declan Walker (Wrexham), Joe Shaughnessy (Aberdeen), Derrick Williams (Aston Villa), Anthony O'Connor (Blackburn Rovers), John Egan (Sunderland), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Kane Ferdinand (Southend United), John O'Sullivan (Blackburn Rovers), Samir Carruthers (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick (Derby County), Seán Murray (Watford), Eoin Wearen (West Ham), Anthony Forde (Wolves), Robert Brady (Manchester United), Conor Murphy (Bray Wanderers), Connor Smith (Watford).
Stoke give Etherington and Huth time
STOKE MANAGER Tony Pulis will leave it until the last minute before deciding whether to name injured duo Robert Huth and Matthew Etherington in his Wembley line-up.
However, concerns remain about the fitness of defender Huth, who suffered a knee injury in the victory against Arsenal. Winger Etherington has also been struggling to recover from a torn hamstring.
King features in Spurs X1 victory
TOTTENHAM DEFENDER Ledley King edged closer to a return to competitive action yesterday when he took part in his first game in seven months.
King, who has been out since October with a groin injury, came through 90 minutes of a Spurs XI’s 3-2 win over West Ham at Chigwell. Harry Redknapp has been careful not to risk a player who has been troubled by chronic knee injuries throughout his career.
Foster taking indefinite break from internationals
BIRMINGHAM AND England goalkeeper Ben Foster yesterday revealed he is taking an indefinite break from international football.
The 28-year-old has been the number two to Manchester City’s Joe Hart since last year’s World Cup but has had a series of injury problems and has made the decision to benefit his club career.
Foster told www.bcfc.com: “Performing at the highest level game in, game out, and particularly when there’s been as many matches as there have been this season, really takes it out of your body.”
Foster’s decision, which he insists is reversible, comes exactly a year after he was left out of the England squad for the World Cup by coach Fabio Capello.
He said: “It’s no secret that I’ve had a few niggling injuries and that I’ve had to pull out of the past few England squads because of that.”
Davies hoping for Forest to fire
BILLY DAVIES hopes a “sleeping giant” could be about to stir as he prepares to lead Nottingham Forest into the Championship play-offs for the second successive season.
Twelve months after the heartbreak of losing to Blackpool in the semi-finals, the English east midlands club are challenging for promotion again.
Swansea stand in their way, with the first leg at the City Ground tonight and the return game in south Wales on Monday.
Goalkeeper Lee Camp and midfielder Guy Moussi will be fit for the first leg. Both players were substituted as a precautionary measure against Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has a full-strength squad at his disposal, leaving him with just a couple of selection dilemmas. The biggest of those comes at the heart of defence as skipper Garry Monk and Alan Tate likely battle it out to start alongside Ashley Williams.
Bayern increase their offer for Neuer
BAYERN MUNICH have reportedly increased their offer for Manuel Neuer, a day after admitting they were unlikely to reach agreement with Schalke for the goalkeeper.
The Bavarians’ first offer for the Germany number one was a long way short of what Schalke are wanting for the 25-year-old, making Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge sceptical about a deal being reached.
However, Bayern are now believed to have offered around €21 million for the goalkeeper, who becomes a free agent next year. Last month’s original offer was thought to be around €18 million.
Neuer has also been linked with a move to Manchester United.
