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More Gerrard injury concern

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Steven Gerrard (8/1 to be England’s World Cup Top Goalscorer) cut short an England training session for a second successive day on Friday, adding to fears over the midfielder’s fitness.

Reports claim the Liverpool skipper pulled up during Thursday’s practice match and received treatment on the sidelines for a calf problem.

Gerrard did return to training on Friday but did not complete the session, in which the England squad worked on shooting.

The 29-year-old then left the Austrian training ground with physio Gary Lewin for more treatment, and looks a doubt for Sunday’s final warm-up game (England 7/1 to come from behind and win the friendly) against Japan in Graz.

Sunday’s match will offer a last chance for some players to prove to Fabio Capello that they deserve a place in the final 23-man party.

There is better news on the injury front for Gerrard’s Liverpool colleague Glen Johnson, who also missed training on Thursday with a calf problem.

The right-back was back with the rest of the squad on Friday and impressed during the shooting practise – following on from his cracking goal in the friendly win over Mexico.

Having recovered from a hamstring problem, Sunderland’s Darren Bent is expected to feature against the fellow World Cup qualifiers, with Japan in Group E along with Holland, Denmark and Cameroon.

Stephen Warnock will have a late check on an ankle problem to see if he can start, as he battles with Leighton Baines for the role of back-up to Ashley Cole at left-back.

Capello has already stated that Ledley King will sit out Sunday’s game having completed the full 90 minutes in midweek, so Matthew Upson may be handed a start in the centre of defence.

Meanwhile, Fernando Torres believes Gerrard will be crucial to England’s hopes after claiming his Liverpool team-mate is ‘in the same league’ as Lionel Messi.

The Spanish international says the England midfielder is one of five players capable of dominating at the World Cup and that he is able to ‘win a big game on his own’.

Torres has seen Gerrard’s qualities at first hand and he feels the England vice-captain, along with Wayne Rooney, could win the World Cup for the Three Lions.

The Spain striker said: “He’s in the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, that’s how good he is. Rooney and Stevie must have big tournaments.

“If they do then England should be very much feared.”

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Ferguson to help pick successor

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Manchester United (United 11/5 to win the Premier League outright) manager Sir Alex Ferguson will have a key role in deciding his successor, according to chief executive David Gill.

Speculation over when the United boss will retire from management has continued after his side missed out on the Premier League title to Chelsea this season.

Gill has stated that Ferguson has not made any decision on when he will retire but the Scot alongside England legend Sir Bobby Charlton and the club’s owner will choose from a “small pool” of candidates to decide the next manager.

Gill said: “I think Alex will be the key. He knows people. He will have a big role in advising and being a sounding board. I am sure we will talk with the owners and look at who is there and determine who we would like to appoint.

“It would be remiss of us not to use the expertise and knowledge that we have,” he added.
Ferguson has stated that his health would be the only factor in deciding when he would retire from football.

Speculation that the new Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will be taking reins at Old Trafford after the Bernabeu has continued and the United chief executive would not state whether the two-time Champions League winner is favourite to be the next manager.

Gill said: “He has certainly got something about him. He’s a winner.”

Mourinho has revealed that he would like to work with United and England striker Wayne Rooney, but whether this is at Madrid or in Manchester is unclear.

However, Florentino Perez is supposedly talking to representatives at Old Trafford about potentially signing the player as they claim they can reach the club’s valuation for the forward.

Rooney is currently training with the England (Rooney 10/1 to be the top goalscorer at the World Cup) squad ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.

England will face Japan in their final pre season match on Sunday before the 23 man squad is announced.

Avoiding injury, Rooney is guaranteed a seat on the plane to South Africa and any potential deal with Real Madrid would be likely to take place after the tournament which could increase the player’s valuation if he has a successful tournament.

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Daggers up for Millers clash

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Dagenham & Redbridge assistant manager Terry Harris believes the chance to play in League One is all the incentive his players need in Sunday’s League Two play-off final with Rotherham (Daggers 10/11 to be promoted).

The two sides go head-to-head at Wembley on Sunday for the chance to rise into English football’s third tier, with Rotherham 4/5 to gain promotion.

Harris believes that 10 years ago it would have been impossible even to dream of playing against some of the sides who are currently in League One, and he feels it is testament to the way the club has developed that they have a chance of promotion this weekend.

“Playing in League One is a massive incentive and it is hard to believe,” he said.

“A decade ago we were mid-table in the Ryman League and next season we could be playing in the same division as Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Charlton.

“Back in those days there were 20-30 non-league clubs in the south east who were similar in size and support to ourselves.

“But we are the only ones who have gone on to establish ourselves as a Football League side and now we could even be a League One team.”

The Victoria Road outfit can expect around 13,000 fans to make the short trip to Wembley on Sunday and despite the fact that they finished seventh in the League Two standings this year, Harris does not feel they are underdogs going into the showpiece event.

Manager John Still looks set to name an unchanged side from the Morecambe win, providing midfielder Peter Gain can overcome a calf proble.

The northern outfit are the 7/5 favourites to win the match in 90 minutes, with the Daggers on offer at 9/5 and the draw priced at 12/5.

The Daggers’ Paul Benson is the 4/1 joint-favourite to be first goalscorer – along with the Millers’ Adam le Fondre, with Dagenham’s Josh Scott on offer at 6/1 and Rotherham’s Drewe Broughton and Ryan Taylor at 7/1.

Rotherham boss Moore feels victory at Wembley on Sunday will surpass all of his previous achievements in management.

“It will probably be the best of the promotions for me in the way that we have had to do it,” he said.

“Where we are, for the players to produce the togetherness they have, I think that would be the best of all the promotions we’ve had.”

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New Zealand’s Brown faces race against time

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New Zealand manager Ricki HerbertNew Zealand (66/1 to win Group F) midfielder Tim Brown will not find out if he can play in the World Cup until the day before the tournament starts.

Brown said at a press conference that he will make the decision about whether he is fit enough to play, following a recovery period for his fractured shoulder that was operated on this week.

“I think on June 10th they’re going to make a decision. Until then, I don’t know, I’m just going to work as hard as I can on rehab,” said Brown.

“It’ll be a combination of both [Brown's and doctors' evaluations], it’s going to be a moment of real honesty from me, giving my best advice and making the best decision. We’ll have a chat about it.

“The one thing from my point of view is when I make that decision I’ll make the right one. And that’s not going to be one for me, it’s one for the team.

“I do believe if I’m fit I can contribute, and if I’m fit I can help them. If not, I won’t. I just don’t think it’s fair. We’ve worked hard to build a culture of real honesty and togetherness and if I go over there and I’m not right I think I do a bit of disservice to my mates and to the shirt.”

The Wellington Phoenix man says even if he is not available to the All Whites, it will not be a terminal blow to their chances. (New Zealand 12/1 to qualify from Group F)

“To be perfectly honest I’m not critical to the team, it’s not a Dan Carter or a Ryan Nelsen situation,” he said.

“I think I’ve got stuff to offer, a lot to offer, but I’ll only go if I feel I can offer 100 percent. To go and offer 80 percent or 75 percent, I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”

The surgery saw doctors insert three screws into his fractured bone, but the recovery is going as well as possible, says Brown, who hopes to be back in the gym over the weekend.

He said: “The surgery went, by all accounts, amazingly well, which has given me a big, big chance. All the muscles and ligaments are intact.”

The 29-year-old suffered a fractured right shoulder during the All White’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Australia (125/1 to win World Cup 2010) in Melbourne on Monday.

Brown was rated a “50-50″ chance before the operation and surgeon Stu Walsh offered a positive prognosis, albeit without ensuring his fitness for South Africa, after revealing Thursday’s operation had gone well.

“It is still too early to comment on his chances of being available for the World Cup at this stage,” Walsh said.

“That will depend on how quickly he heals and how well he progresses through rehabilitation. The usual recovery time for this type of injury is three to six weeks, depending on the individual, and it can occasionally be much longer.

“However, Tim is a strong and fit athlete, who is very motivated and looks after himself well, which will benefit his recovery.

“We are therefore optimistic about the prognosis.”

Coach Ricki Herbert feels the squad is well prepared now they have arrived in their pre-World Cup base, and said: “Psychologically we’re really in that World Cup mode now.

“We’ve got teams like England and Japan preparing [in Austria] so there’s a real sense that we’re back on the world stage again.”

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Torres back in training

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Torres celebratesFernando Torres delivered a huge boost to Spain’s (4/1 outright winners) hopes of leaving South Africa as World champions as he returned to training with the squad on Friday.

Torres endured a torrid Premier League campaign with Liverpool and suffered from a string of injuries that blighted his season from start to finish. The Spanish superstar has not played since mid-April when he underwent a knee operation which immediately put his participation in South Africa in doubt.

However, the former Atletico Madrid hitman is well ahead of schedule in his recovery from surgery and was able to return to light training on Friday and could now be set to start in the Iberians opener against Switzerland on June 16.

The atmosphere in the camp had been one of concern that two of their star players might have to miss the tournament completely. However, things have improved dramatically in recent days as Cesc Fabregas made it through a friendly match and now Torres’ return to training has given the squad another lift. Defender Gerard Piqué said. “Fernando is an important player for us and hopefully he can be ready for the first World Cup match.”

Vicente Del Bosque had been experimenting with a variety of systems in preparation for life without his star striker, which included using Fabregas as an auxiliary second striker, but will now be able to put those away for a while yet.

Spain are understandably favourites at 1/18 to qualify from Group H and would be expected to do so in some style. The European champions face Switzerland first, before meeting minnows Honduras and finally South American qualifiers Chile.

There has been talk in the Spanish press about a race for the Golden Boot between Torres and Villa. The Liverpool striker is 14/1 to come away from the tournament as top goal scorer, with his Barcelona bound team-mate favourite at 9/1 to top the charts.

Spain are well fancied to lift the Jules Rimet trophy at Soccer City on 11 July and enter the tournament as favourites ahead of world ranked number one Brazil.

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Cesar vents anger at balls

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Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar (13/2 to win best keeper) is the latest player to voice his anger at the new ball being used in the World Cup.

All the teams have been given a stock of the Adidas ‘Jabulani’ footballs in order to prepare for the finals in South Africa but the Brazilian number one has been left unimpressed.

‘Jabulani’ means happy or rejoice in Zulu, one of the tribal languages of South Africa, but it seems the ball is not stirring such emotions in the players that are about to use it. The Inter Milan ‘keeper complained: “The football is horrible. It seems like one of those you buy in the supermarket.”

The concerns from the Brazilian camp follow quickly on the back of their English counterparts who voiced their concerns last week that the ball was difficult to control. The England side have been testing the ball for themselves at their training camp in Austria and felt the ball was too lightweight and seemed to bounce away from them too easily.

Such complaints are very common before major tournaments and the ‘Jabulani’ is only the latest in a stream of footballs to be maligned before its official unveiling.

In fact, Brazil (9/2 outright winers) have previously been amongst the most vociferous when it comes complaining about the football. In 2002, striker Edmilson complained that the Adidas ‘Fevernova’ was too light and he could not get his shots on target in training. Of course, the Brazilians went on to win that World Cup in South Korea and Japan with the great Ronaldo ending the tournament as top scorer.

The World Cup gets underway in Johannesburg on June 11 with host nation South Africa entertaining Central American qualifiers Mexico. You can guarantee that there will be plenty of comment in the aftermath of the opening few matches about the ball, especially if there is a high-profile mistake caused by the ball taking a strange flight path.

Brazil are in this year’s Group of Death alongside Ivory Coast, Portugal and minnows North Korea who they face in their opening fixture.

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No restrictions on Fergie

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Sir Alex FergusonManchester United (Manchester United 11/5 to win the Premier League outright)  chief executive David Gill has stated that Sir Alex Ferguson will not have any restrictions placed upon him in the transfer market this summer.

The mounting debt accumulated by the Glazer family who own the club has caused unrest amongst fans at Old Trafford, with worries over how much the manager will have to spend in the next transfer window being a major concern.

However, Gill has reiterated the fact that Ferguson will have significant money to spend in the summer to help the side regain the Premier League title from Chelsea (Chelsea 13/8 to win the Premier League outright) and to push on in Europe.

He said: “The money is definitely there. The results for the quarter ending 31 March will show the figures are about £95million cash.

“We are not in a situation whereby Alex is restricted in what he wants to do with the club and his modus operandi as a manager. We have never said: ‘You can’t do that, we have to pay interest (on the debt),” he added.

Ferguson has recently stated that he feels the transfer market has been distorted by clubs such as Real Madrid and United’s local rival Manchester City who are paying huge sums of money for players.

Fans are concerned that money from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real last summer was not put back in to making signings on the pitch.

Despite worries over the amount the United boss has to spend at Old Trafford, Ferguson has already added to the squad with the signing of promising English centre-back Chris Smalling from Fulham and Mexico international Javier Hernandez.

A number of players have been linked with the Red Devils this summer with Joe Cole, who is soon out of contract at Chelsea, and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner being speculated as possible additions to the squad.

The ‘green and gold’ campaign by United fans shows the unrest amongst supporters of the team who are against the Glazer families running of the club, and the transfer budget and debt are some of the key issues.

Gill believes the campaign will fade with the team on the pitch being successful.

He said: “The green and gold campaign and the momentum behind that can get a bit tiring.

“Would we prefer not to have them [green and gold scarves]? Yes. They have a right to protest. A lot of the fans clearly care about the club and that is a strength.”

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McGovern urges flying start

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Swindon midfielder Jon-Paul McGovern believes it is vital that the Robins start Saturday’s League One play-off final with Millwall in the right frame of mind and play their own game (Swindon 5/4 – to be promoted).

The Wiltshire club face the Lions (4/7 – to gain promotion) at Wembley in a winner-takes-all encounter for a place in the Championship with their 3-2 defeat to the Londoners in the final match of the season still fresh in their minds.

Swindon took an early lead in that encounter only for Millwall to net three times before Billy Paynter’s 85th-minute goal got them back to within touching distance.

Danny Wilson’s men are known for their passing ability and stylish football but McGovern feels they did not play their own game in the season finale – something he has urged his team-mates to put right this time around.

“Maybe at their place we played into their hands a little bit,” he told the Advertiser. “We never got on the ball and we didn’t do the things which we are good at.

“It’s important that we stamp our authority on the game early doors on Saturday and show everybody what a good passing side we are.”

Paynter has scored 29 goals prior to the final with strike partner Charlie Austin netting 20 times this term and Swindon will look to those two for the goals that could secure a place in the second tier of English football by Saturday evening.

McGovern is aware of the importance of the strike duo but was quick to praise Wilson for the way he has guided the side to the brink of glory this season.

He added: “Everyone talks about Billy and Charlie and the goals they have scored, but as a team it has been fantastic and a lot of that is down to the manager and his assistant.”

There are plenty of betting opportunities for Saturday’s final with first goal-scorer always a popular bet.

Austin and Paynter are both on offer at 6/1 to score first wit the same price available for either of the pair to be the last goal-scorer as well.

Millwall’s Steve Morison is the 4/1 favourite to score first at Wembley, with team-mates Neil Harris and Gary Alexander trading at 5/1 and 6/1 respectively.

Both clubs know the rewards on offer for promotion to the Championship, having seen how a small club like Blackpool can defy the odds and reach the promised land of the Premiership.

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Paraguay suffer Ireland defeat

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Kevin DoyleParaguay’s preparations for the World Cup in South Africa received a setback when they were beaten 2-1 by the Republic of Ireland (Paraguay 66/1 – Outright).

Kevin Doyle and Liam Lawrence were on target for the Irish, before Lucas Barrios reduced the arrears 13 minutes into the second half.

Ireland would have been going to the World Cup themselves, but for France’s controversial goal in their qualification play-off.

And they showed that they were worthy of making it to South Africa with an assured performance which left the Paraguayans with plenty to think about before they board the plane to South Africa. The World Cup betting suggests they should make it out of their group, but they could be in for a tough time.

The South Americans had plenty of the ball in the first half but could not break down their hosts until the final seconds of the half.

Midfielder Cristian Riveros, who has signed for Sunderland, was instrumental in much of Paraguay’s best moves but they rarely managed to get sight of goal.

Ireland had Roque Santa Cruz (100/1 – World Cup 2010 Top Goalscorer) to thank for their opening goal after seven minutes.

Damien Duff and Lawrence worked a free-kick move before Duff delivered the ball into the box, where defender Paul McShane attempted and failed to execute an overhead kick.

But the ball reared up off the turf and Santa Cruz instinctively headed it on to his own crossbar, allowing Doyle to pounce on the rebound and score.

Paraguay might have hit back within two minutes but midfielder Jonathan Santana’s rising shot sailed over Keiren Westwood’s crossbar.

Ireland went 2-0 up when Doyle chested down Stephen Kelly’s cross to Lawrence, who thumped it past goalkeeper Aldo Bobadilla with the help of a deflection off defender Denis Caniza.

Westwood was called on for the first time in injury time when he tipped Antolin Alcaraz’s speculative effort around the post, but he was otherwise untroubled.

Ireland might have killed the game off within minutes of the restart after creating two good chances in quick succession. Doyle saw his left foot shot on the turn test Bobadilla, then the keeper blocked a shot from Duff.

The South Americans halved the deficit when Gamarra and Claudio Morel played their way around McShane for Gamarra to slide a pass to Barrios, who sent it right-footed past Westwood.

Both managers made changes as Trapattoni handed senior international debuts to Cillian Sheridan, Paul Green and Keith Fahey, while opposite number Gerardo Martino dispensed with three-quarters of his starting midfield.

In the meantime, Westwood was grateful to see Gamarra’s teasing 70th-minute cross run harmlessly out of play and Lawrence intercept substitute Aureliano Torres’ superb pass to Gamarra with the visitors making a late push.

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Mourinho ready for new chapter

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Manager-in-waiting Jose Mourinho has spoken of his determination to return Real Madrid to the glory days of yesteryear – and has hinted he wants Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to join him in the next phase of his hugely-successful career (5/1 Lampard 8/1 Gerrard – Top England Goalscorer World Cup 2010).

The much-decorated coach has yet to sign a contract with Spain’s prestigious capital club but is convinced he has the pedigree and profile to finally mount a challenge to great rivals Barcelona and bring European success back to the Bernabeu.

Speaking about his goals in La Liga, the 47-year-old told Spanish sports daily AS: “I want to win the league, because no player or coach has won the English, Italian and Spanish leagues and I would like to be the first to do it, and also to be the first coach to lift three Champions Leagues with three different teams.

“I would also like to discover a player from the youth team and make him into a star. I have a lot of motivations. I don’t want to lose humility, so I cannot come out and say that I’m going to win the league when you are up against a super team like Barca.”

Real embarked on a 250-million euros spending spree this time last year but ended the season trophyless under Manuel Pellegrini, who was sacked on Wednesday.

Mourinho has already earmarked targets he has in mind as he looks to put his own stamp on his new-look team.

He tried to sign Gerrard from Liverpool when he was manager of Chelsea and knows all about England team-mate Lampard’s qualities from his trophy-laden tenure at Stamford Bridge (England – World Cup 2010 Specials).

Mourinho said: “I like players in the final part of their careers. I love to have some players who are 33 or 34 years old…they are players that you buy and you won’t recover this money, but if they give you good performances for two or three years you’ve got your money’s worth.

“Both (Gerrard and Lampard) are great players who always give everything.”

Real are waiting for Mourinho to resolve his contract, which runs until 2012, with Internazionale before they can unveil the two-time Champions League winner.

The La Liga giants have only won two major trophies in seven years and failed to get beyond the last 16 of the Champions League in any of the last six seasons.

Mourinho, fresh from guiding Inter to a historic treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League titles, has also dismissed suggestions he will want to be the centre of attention, insisting the team comes before any personal gains.

He added: “I will arrive with pride for my professional work, but with much humility because Real Madrid are much bigger than all of us.”

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