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Bruce eyes Black Cats goal solution

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Steve Bruce admits Sunderland (20/1 – Top 6 Premier League finish) do need to bring in another striker before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

The Black Cats (9/1 – to be relegated in 2010-11) have suffered a disappointing start to the season, with just one point from their opening two matches.

Having been two-goals up on the opening day, they allowed Birmingham to take a point at the Stadium of Light before losing 1-0 at newly-promoted West Brom last weekend.

The goals they scored against Birmingham came from a Darren Bent (18/1 – Top Premier League Goalscorer) penalty and an own goal and then a blank sheet at the Hawthorns, highlighting further the need for fresh attacking blood.

Bruce surprised many by allowing Kenwyne Jones to join Premier League rivals Stoke earlier in the summer for £8million and is now looking to bring in a last-minute solution.

Despite signing Danny Welbeck on loan from Manchester United, the Black Cats boss admits further reinforcements are needed before August 31.

Bruce told the Daily Star: “It’s absolutely paramount that I replace Kenwyne Jones. I would not want to get to the end of the window without another striker here.

“We’ve got a couple of young lads in Danny Welbeck and Martyn Waghorn who will play their part, but they are young boys.”

Bruce claims to have “one or two irons in the fire” regarding potential new arrivals, but also stated that do deal is “imminent”.

Sunderland (Carling Cup 90 Mins Betting – Sunderland 4/1, Draw 16/5, Colchester 6/1)  have been linked with the likes of Peter Crouch and Roque Santa Cruz this summer, but it looks like Bruce could look abroad for the solution.

The former Wigan boss is believed to be targeting Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan, who impressed many onlookers during the World Cup.

The 24-year-old currently plays his football in France with Rennes and is likely to cost Sunderland in the region of £12million.

Things don’t get any easier for Bruce’s men, as they seek their first league win of the 2010-11 campaign, with Manchester City the visitors to the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Bruce has been boosted by the news though that Andy Reid and Anton Ferdinand could be fit to return this weekend, following a spell on the sidelines with hamstring problems.

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Championship rivals irked by Bellamy

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Chairman across the Championship are aggrieved with Manchester City for giving Craig Bellamy to Cardiff City (6/1 – Championship outright) and paying his wages, according to John Ryan.

The Doncaster chairman has criticised the moneybags regime at Eastlands for allowing the 31-year-old striker to go on a season-long loan to Cardiff and continue to pay the majority of his wages.

Bellamy scored one goal and got two assists on his debut at the weekend as the Bluebirds steamrollered Ryan’s Doncaster (16/1 – to be promoted) 4-0.

The Wales striker is on a reported £95,000 a week at City and made the switch to Cardiff despite interest in his services from Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham.

At a time when Championship sides like Doncaster have to scrape around to sign players on the cheap and look to the Premier League to allow younger, unproven footballers to go on loan to them, the details of Bellamy’s deal has irked a number of chairman across the country.

Ryan told the Daily Mail it is not a case of “sour grapes”, as he would have done exactly the same as Cardiff if they had the opportunity, but he is more disappointed with City for allowing the deal to happen under the circumstances it did.

He has claimed that the move is going to “distort the integrity of the Championship” and harm what is an “incredibly competitive division”.

“Handing a striker of Bellamy’s quality to Cardiff – and paying most of his wages – undermines the sanctity of the competition,” added Ryan.

“Manchester City shouldn’t have done that. I feel let down by that, as do many other Championship chairmen.”

“If everyone goes to Cardiff and gets slammed 4-0 like us, the result will be an unfair competition because Manchester City are bankrolling Cardiff’s success.”

Despite Bellamy’s successful debut for the Bluebirds, he has moved to calm down supporters who are expecting him to single-handedly bring success to the club this season.

The striker said he cannot get Cardiff promoted on his own and all the players at the club need to “step up to the plate” if success if to happen to Dave Jones’ men this season.

Cardiff face League One side Peterborough in the Carling Cup on Tuesday and after that travel to face beleaguered Portsmouth (50/1 to win the Championship) on August 28.

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Hughes won’t give up on Schwarzer

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Fulham boss Mark Hughes believes there is still a chance that goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer could remain at the club this season (Fulham 1/3 to beat Port Vale in Carling Cup).

The Australia international has spent two seasons at Craven Cottage following 11 years with Middlesbrough but has already been the subject of two £2m bids from Arsenal that were turned down earlier this summer.

The 37-year-old is currently out of action with a back injury and is unlikely to feature in Fulham’s mid-week Carling Cup clash with Port Vale, with David Stockdale proving a more than adequate replacement between the posts in the early part of the campaign.

Arsenal have been looking for a solid, dependable keeper for some time with both Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski vulnerable to making the odd costly mistake.

Schwarzer responded to the recent interest from the Gunners by handing in a transfer request as he seeks to play Champions League football in the final few years of his career.

It seems likely that the former Bradford custodian will be allowed to leave if the two clubs can reach a deal on the financial side of the transfer, but Hughes was quick to point out that there is still a chance that the talented shot-stopper might remain at the Cottage until at least Christmas.

“It’s not a foregone conclusion that Mark will leave,” he told the Guardian.  “We’re all aware of Arsenal’s interest. It’s not a surprise because he’s an outstanding goalkeeper and they obviously feel they have an issue with their own goalkeeper.”

Hughes admitted he has been pleased with what he has seen of Schwarzer’s understudy to date but pointed out that he might be in the market for a more experienced keeper if his current number one does leave west London.

“We’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen (of Stockdale) since we’ve been here, and he’s arguably been the star man in both games,” he added. “We’re pleased with what he’s producing at the moment but it’s always difficult for young keepers.

“They get by initially on adrenalin and enthusiasm, but can they keep it up over time? It’s a long season and you’ve got to be careful with them.”

Fulham will next be in Premiership action on Saturday when they make the long trip to Bloomfield Road to take on Blackpool (Blackpool 3/10 to be relegated from Prem).

Hughes will fancy his chances of taking all three points following the Seasiders 6-0 capitulation against Arsenal at the weekend but Ian Holloway’s side will be desperate to show their fans what they can do on their home Premiership debut.

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McCarthy calls for Latics response

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Wigan midfielder James McCarthy admits it is vital Latics use Tuesday night’s Carling Cup second-round clash at League One Hartlepool as a chance to kick-start their season (Chelsea 11/2f – Carling Cup Outright).

Roberto Martinez’s side have suffered two heavy defeats in their opening Premier League games after being humbled at the DW Stadium, first by new boys Blackpool and then champions Chelsea last Saturday.

Latics have shipped 10 goals in the process, scoring none in reply, as their poor form from the end of last term continues following the 8-0 drubbing by Chelsea on the final day of the last campaign.

Wigan were dumped out of the Carling Cup at the second-round stage last season after losing 4-1 to Blackpool who were then still a Championship side.

But at least by that point Latics had some league points on the board following a shock opening-day win at Astom Villa – 12 months on things are very different for the DW Stadium outfit.

And McCarthy, who was the pick of Wigan’s side at the weekend, admits they must get up and running sooner rather than later after a bright start against Chelsea ultimately counted for nothing (Latics 20/23 – Relegation).

He said: “We have to take the positives. At times we matched Chelsea all over the pitch, especially in the first half when I feel we dominated the game.

“But they got that crucial first goal in that half and showed their class as true champions.

“Although we’ve conceded 10 goals, we are not going to look at it that way.

“We’ve suffered two defeats and hopefully we can now lift ourselves and kick on on Tuesday. We’ll go there and try and give it our all.

“Of course, the manager isn’t happy and rightly so. Conceding five goals in the second half is not acceptable and we need to address that.

“We just need to work on the training ground. I’m sure it’s as simple as that.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has acted to bolster his defensive options by signing free agent Steven Caldwell who was released by Burnley at the end of last season.

The 29-year-old joins his brother, Gary, at the DW Stadium and is in contention for the trip to Victoria Park.

Tuesday’s Carling Cup second-round action:
Bradford v Preston
Brentford v Hull
Crewe v Ipswich
Hartlepool v Wigan
Leeds United v Leicester
Leyton Orient v West Brom
Millwall v Middlesbrough
MK Dons v Blackpool
Morecambe v Burnley
Peterborough v Cardiff
Portsmouth v Crystal Palace
Scunthorpe v Sheff Wed
Southampton v Bolton
Stoke v Shrewsbury
Sunderland v Colchester
Tranmere v Swansea
Watford v Notts County
West Ham v Oxford Utd
Wolverhampton v Southend
Blackburn v Norwich
Reading v Northampton

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Hodgson drops transfer hint

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Roy Hodgson leads Liverpool into battle at Manchester City on Monday night admitting he might well be finished in the transfer market this summer (City 11/8, draw 9/4, Reds 2/1 – 90 minutes).

The Reds have so far drafted in the likes of Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen, Brad Jones, Danny Wilson, Milan Jovanovic and Jonjo Shelvey, although keeping the likes of captain Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres has arguably been their best piece of business.

Doubt still exists over the future of Argentina captain Javier Mascherano – the Reds will keep him unless Liverpool’s valuation is met despite the signing of Poulsen as cover – but Hodgson insists is still working out exactly where money needs to be spent as a priority.

In the build-up to the trip to Eastlands for what could be a Premier League cracker, the former Fulham chief confirmed: “I’d like some money to spend if I could research where that money could be spent wisely.

“Giving me a lot now and telling me to go out and buy some players with one week of the transfer window left would not be particularly advantageous.

“I’ve only been here for five weeks or so and I’d want to make sure I had assessed absolutely everyone, including those at the academy, just in case we have an outstanding 17-year-old.

“We might have a Javier Hernandez there so I don’t want to go out and spend £50million on buying another one.”

Liverpool’s financial position and the fact co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are looking to sell up means unearthing another Kop youngster would be manna from heaven for the Merseyside outfit.

The Reds started the Premier League season with a draw at home against Arsenal so they will be looking for their first win when they make the short trip to Manchester (Liverpool 11/5 – To Keep A Clean Sheet).

Cole’s red card against the Gunners means he will sit the game out while defender Daniel Agger is a doubt because of the after-effects of concussion.

City will almost certainly hand a debut to new midfielder James Milner who has been prised away from Aston Villa.

The England international is eyeing a new role at his latest club although his versatility means the former Leeds United starlet is likely to be asked to do a variety of jobs during his City career.

“Wherever the manager wants me to play, I’ll do it to the best of my ability,” the 24-year-old told City’s website.

“But I enjoy playing in the middle – that’s probably my best position and where I’ve shown by best form over the past 18 months. I’ve been most creative and scored goals from there and I’ve enjoyed it immensely.

“I think that’s where the boss has signed me to play, but if he asks me to play anywhere else I’ll do what is best for the team.

“As long as we’re winning football matches, that’s all that counts.”

City could hand a Premier League debut to new striker Mario Balotelli (7/1 – Enhanced First Goalscorer) although Aleksandar Kolarov and Jerome Boateng remain sidelined with ankle and leg problems respectively.

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Bradley interested in Villa job

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Bob Bradley has broken his silence over the Aston Villa (9/5 for top six finish) managerial vacancy to say it is a job he would like.

The United States coach, who took his country to the second round in the World Cup in South Africa, says although he has had no formal talks over the position, his representatives have made contact with Villa.

Asked on BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme whether he would be interested in the job, he said: “Of course, I think Aston Villa is a massive club with great history and a great following and those type of opportunities would of course be of interest.

“I would certainly be honoured to have that conversation but I’m impressed with the way things have been handled so far and we’ll see what the future holds.”

Villa (7/5 to beat the Toon) play Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon where they look for their second victory under caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald.

Bradley, 52, has a contract with the United States which runs until the end of the year, but he says is ambitious to manage in Europe.

He said: “I’ve always been excited about being a manager in Europe but at the same time I’m proud of the work we’ve done with the US team over the last four years. It is important to consider that as a challenge as well. So we’ll see what happens.

“There have been discussions with some of my representatives to at least find out the situation but Aston Villa seem to have taken a good stance where they have been patient.

“They have a very good man in Kevin MacDonald who is highly respected in the club so I think on the one hand they are probably putting a list together and on the other making sure Kevin has the time to consider his future as well. It has been handled very well.

“I had some people do some checking just to find out where things stood.”

Meanwhile, MacDonald admits he does not know if he would take the job on a full-time basis if he was offered it.

The experienced coach guided Villa to a 3-0 opening day victory over West Ham, followed by an impressive 1-1 draw away at Rapid Vienna in the Europa League in midweek.

However, the 49-year-old is unsure if he would take the job.

“If the results continue to be going reasonably well and Randy Lerner said that he wanted me to be considered alongside other people I would then push myself into the thought process of taking the job,” he said.

“But is that what I want to do and can I cope with it? At the present time Mr Lerner has said just keep doing the job. He realises just how much work is involved because of the lack of staff.

“From my point of view I have been concentrating so much on what has been going on that I’ve not had the opportunity to think whether I want this kind of job.

“I’m very wary that being a Premiership manager your life doesn’t become your own. You are in the public eye with every decision you make.

“That, along with all the other things, makes me wonder whether I want it 24 hours a day, seven days a week for however long it may be.”

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Barton refuses to get carried away

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Joey Barton admits that Newcastle (1/7 to stay up) made a statement to the rest of the Premier League with the 6-0 demolition of Aston Villa at St James’s Park but insists that the players will not be getting carried away with the result.

The newly-promoted Magpies were given a tough start to the new season and were comfortably beaten 3-0 against Manchester United at Old Trafford last Monday, but got their home campaign off in fine style against managerless Villa.

The game could have been entirely different had John Carew not blazed a tenth-minute penalty high into the stand after Ashley Young had been brought down by goalkeeper Steve Harper.

Newcastle wasted little time in taking advantage when Barton smashed in a dipping 20-yard effort to set the ball rolling and the home side never let up as the confidence drained from Villa, who had started brightly.

Kevin Nolan doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, before Andy Carroll added a third before the break.

Newcastle’s dominance continued after the interval with Carroll grabbing his second on 67 minutes, Nolan his second with three minutes to go and Carroll (33/1 to finish as the Premier League’s top goal scorer) completing his first senior hat-trick for the club in the last minute of injury time.

It was a great performance in front of the fanatical home crowd but Barton is determined that he and his team-mates keep their feet on the ground as Newcastle (4/1 to be relegated) look to re-establish themselves as a Premier League club.

“We weren’t too bothered about Monday – a lot of teams will get beaten by more than we did at Manchester United,” Barton said.

“It was important to make a statement today and now we want to carry the momentum forward.

“One swallow doesn’t make a summer but we’ve got to put in the same kind of shift in our next game at Wolves.

“We want to stabilise this club in the Premier League and we have given Villa a game today.”

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton looks set to strengthen his midfield after agreeing terms with FC Twente for Ivory Coast international Cheick Tiote, who has passed a medical and is now just awaiting a work permit.

Hughton admits it is a very important signing for the club, with Alan Smith the only other defensive midfielder in the squad, but is hopeful that the transfer dealings will not end there.

“We feel it’s such an important area in this division,” Hughton said. “Hopefully there will be one or two more signings before the window closes.”

Newcastle are next in action on Wednesday and are strong 4/9 favourites in the match betting to win their Carling Cup tie at Accrington Stanley (5/1 to win, 3/1 the draw) before travelling to Wolverhampton, who have taken four points from their opening two league fixtures, on a return to Premier League duty on Saturday.

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Gallas completes Spurs switch

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Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of former Arsenal (11/2 to win the Premier League) captain William Gallas on a one-year-deal.

The Frenchman became a free agent when his contract ended at the Emirates and the defender has decided to make the short journey across North London to Spurs.

Gallas underwent a medical on Friday but the deal was finally completed on Sunday after the player agreed terms.

The 33-year-old was offered a new deal at rivals Arsenal however the player has taken a cut in wages to join the White Hart Lane club.

Spurs (10/1 to win the Carling Cup) boss Harry Redknapp has insisted that the player has not moved to the club for a big money deal and thinks he will be a good addition to the squad.

He said: “He’s a no-brainer on a free transfer.”

“He’s never asked for big money here. The chairman’s agreed a one-year contract with him and the wages are more than reasonable,” he added.

Redknapp has been looking for cover in defensive roles throughout the summer as Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate have ongoing injury problems.

Michael Dawson, Sebastien Bassong and Younes Kaboul have all been battling for a place in the starting eleven and Gallas will add more experience to the defence.

The outspoken player has played plenty of matches in the Champions League with the Gunners which will help Spurs if they manage to qualify for the group stages of the competition.

Tottenham lost the away leg against Swiss side Young Boys 3-2 and will be hoping to overcome the deficit when the two sides face each other at White Hart Lane.

Gallas could feature in that match if King’s knee problems rule him out of action for the game.

Arsene Wenger has thanked his former skipper for his efforts in the last four years at the Emirates.

He said: “At the moment he’s looking for a club, he’s free. He has chosen the best possible option for him.

“We are thankful for what he has done for us and we wish him good luck in his new club.”

Spurs picked up their first win of the Premier League season on Saturday when they beat Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

The North London side will be confident of picking up another three points this weekend when they take on a struggling Wigan Athletic side who have conceded 10 goals in their first two Premier League games.

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Adebayor won’t rule out January move

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Manchester City’s (11/8 to beat Liverpool) Emmanuel Adebayor has hinted he could leave the Eastlands club in the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old was left on the bench when City (8/13 for a top four finish) started their Premier League campaign at Spurs last weekend, and sought out boss Roberto Mancini to discuss his future at the club.

“I had a chat with the manager after the Spurs game which was good. But managers can change,” he told The People.

“Today they love you and then you think you are going to be moving.

“I don’t want to look too far into the future. Who knows? By January maybe the manager will tell me to leave – or maybe I will ask to leave.

“What is important for me is to have clear focus on playing for City and fighting for my place in the team and that is what I intend to do.

“As a footballer you have lots of difficult times. Being sat on the bench for the first game of the season at Tottenham was tough for me and I admit I was a little bit upset.”

Adebayor, capped 38 times by his country, made his name with Metz when he scored 17 goals in 35 games in the 2002-03 season, before a spell with Monaco which saw him help the French club to the Champions League final.

He spent three years at Arsenal, bagging 46 goals in 104 appearances for the Gunners, before City paid a fee of around £25million for him in July 2009, and has since scored 14 goals in 26 games.

Adebayor says his outlook on the game, and life in general, changed after he was involved in a near-death experience when the Togo team bus he was travelling on was ambushed by gunman en route to the African Nations Cup earlier this year.

An assistant coach and the team’s press officer – plus a driver – were killed and Adebayor said he was forced to re-evaluate his life.

“I have the chance to be alive when I could have been dead after what happened at the Cup of Nations,” he added.

“That experience can maybe make me a bit awkward as I know what I want now. My priority from now on is always going to be my family.

“But, you have to fight for your place. I am very happy to be part of this club and I love the challenge of making it at City.

“Now I’m waiting for my chance. I’m playing for one of the big teams in England and all I need now is to be playing games and scoring goals.”

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Vidic ends exit talk

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Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has put an end to the speculation surrounding his future by penning a new deal at Old Trafford (Manchester United 11/10 to keep a clean sheet at Craven Cottage tomorrow).

The Serbian star, rated as one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League, has been linked with some of Europe’s top clubs over the summer but has now extended his stay with United by signing a new four-year deal.

The likes of Italian giants AC Milan and La Liga outfit Real Madrid, now managed by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, had been mooted as possible suitors for the powerful stopper but Vidic will stick with United.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was understandably delighted Vidic has agreed new terms.

Rio Ferdinand, who usually partners the powerful Serbian in the heart of the United defence, is still two or three weeks away from being able to play after suffering a knee injury in the build up to the World Cup and it was perhaps crucial that the United boss retained Vidic’s services.

“We are delighted Nemanja has committed his future to the club,” Ferguson said. “This kills all the silly speculation over the past few months.

“Nemanja has developed into one of the best centre-halves in Europe and we are pleased he will be here for many years to come.”

Both Real and AC Milan were rumoured to be lining up mega bids for the 28-year-old, with some sources speculating the duo would battle it out by launching bids of around £20million to capture the defender, but that speculation has now been ended.

The man himself revealed he was pleased to have extended his stay at Old Trafford and paid tribute to United for helping him improve as a player after joining in a £7.2million deal in 2005 from Russian side Spartak Moscow.

“I am very happy to sign this contract,” added Vidic. “I came to this club when I was young and have developed enormously with the help of the manager, coaching staff and my team-mates.

“During my time here we have had a lot of success and I look forward to continuing that success in the coming seasons.”

United take on Fulham at Craven Cottage as they look to continue their fine start to the season, having beaten Newcastle 3-0  and secured the Community Shield title with a 3-1 victory over Chelsea (Fulham 9/2, draw 14/5, Man Utd 8/13).

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