Vincent Pericard will resume training at Stoke City today after being released from prison for a second time - and could be in line for an immediate recall to first-team duties.
Pericard was re-arrested and sent back to prison - where he has spent the last fortnight - on October 12, after his electronic tag fell off his left ankle on two occasions.
But yesterday morning, the 25-year-old striker walked free from a Manchester prison, having served his time wearing the tag as part of his parole conditions.
Pericard was due to be reunited with his City team-mates at training, as the club ponders whether to include him in the squad for Saturday's trip to Championship high-fliers Bristol City.
Assistant manager Dave Kemp said: "I think Vincent is coming into training today, and we will have to see how he is. But it is too early to say whether he will be in contention for the trip to Bristol City on Saturday."
Before his re-arrest, Pericard had already served nearly five weeks of a four-month prison sentence for lying to police over a speeding fine.
Pericard's chances of making Saturday's squad have been heightened by the loss of midweek goal hero Richard Cresswell to suspension and Mama Sidibe, who is still recovering from injuries sustained during an attack while on international duty with Mali a fortnight ago.
Ricardo Fuller and Jon Parkin are also doubts after picking up knocks in Tuesday's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.
Despite concerns over their fitness for the weekend, Kemp was impressed with how frontmen Fuller and Cresswell combined at Palace as fans saw the new strike partnership for the first time.
Kemp said: "Cressy did brilliantly. He works really hard and does a lot of Ricardo's leg work, which Mama (Sidibe) also does well. It is a potential partnership, but Mama and Parkin can also play - it is important everyone can play. Ricardo and Parkin both took knocks on Tuesday night, but hopefully they will be fine for the match on Saturday."
Meanwhile, Kemp refused to confirm whether the Potters are on the verge of signing Coventry defender Elliott Ward, who has been linked with a big-money move to the Britannia Stadium.
"Ward is one player, out of many, we are interested in," added Kemp.
"It is no closer than that, and nothing will be done before the end of the week."
25 October 2007
Brian Laws was left reeling yesterday after seeing the spine of his Sheffield Wednesday team ripped apart.
The Owls manager was already struggling to come to terms with the long-term ankle ligament injury to star striker Francis Jeffers.
But in the aftermath of Tuesday night's home shocker against Scunthorpe United – which saw the Owls concede two goals for the fourth consecutive match and leaves them just one point off the bottom of the Championship after a quarter of the season – Laws was hit by another double blow.
First, centre-half Richard Wood, who was stretchered off against the Iron, has suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Then to cap a miserable week for Laws, Sunderland manager Roy Keane has ignored Wednesday's request to keep on-loan midfield general Graham Kavanagh for a second month as he wants him back on Wearside to help in their relegation battle in the Premier League.
"You always seem to pick up injuries when things aren't going well," said assistant manager Russ Wilcox.
"They are two key players. Everybody is important to the club, but these two are key players for us. You don't want to use injuries as an excuse but we have lost Richard Wood to a shoulder injury and we lost Francis Jeffers on Saturday. When things aren't going well you do seem to pick up injuries but we have enough in the squad to turn it around and we will just have to keep battling away."
In Wood, Kavanagh and Jeffers it is three players who formed the spine of Laws's team. One of Wednesday's main problems this season has been their lack of goals at Hllsborough.
They have scored just three times in six Championship games, including Deon Burton's penalty on Tuesday evening before he was substituted with concussion, and the other two scorers – Jeffers and Wade Small – are out injured.
Laws is hoping talks with chairman Dave Allen will allow him funds to bring in an on-loan striker to boost his firepower, but with performances from the Owls like the first 45 minutes against Sunthorpe, even strikers of the calibre of Wayne Rooney would struggle to get a sniff of goal.
Wilcox criticised his side's work-rate – usually a taboo issue when coaches moan about their players – and said the Iron had been more industrious than the Owls before the break.
"We looked like we worked harder in the second half, but you shouldn't be asking players to work harder, that should be just a natural thing," said the Owls No 2.
"That was disappointing. Once we stepped up the tempo after the break, I thought we dominated the second half. We have got to perform better over 90 minutes. In the first half we never won a second ball, we couldn't just get any tempo, but in the second we won the second ball and that allowed us to play. It's very difficult as a coach or manager to put your finger on what went wrong. We just looked flat in the first half."
Of the three promoted clubs from League One, Wednesday have already lost to two at Hillsborough this season; Scunthorpe joining Bristol City in taking maximum points.
The third side, Blackpool, visit Hillsborough on Saturday and Laws will be desperate to avoid an unwanted hat-trick. It's a massive week for the club," admitted Wilcox.
One piece of good news for Laws, however, is that on-loan central defender Michael Johnson has agreed to stay at Hillsbrough for a further month.
Sheffield United manager Bryan Robson will today attend the launch of a special exhibition at Bramall Lane which celebrates the history of black footballers in Sheffield.
The event, which is organised jointly by the Blades, the "Football Unites, Racism Divides" campaign, and The Hub African-Caribbean Centre based in Sharrow, also includes the launch of a project named in honour of Robson's former West Brom team-mate Laurie Cunningham.
Cunningham, who died in a car accident in July 1989, became the first black player to represent England at international level when he scored for the under-21 side in a 1-0 win over Scotland at Bramall Lane 30 years ago.
19 October 2007
John Hartson has handed Bristol City the perfect incentive to win at Norwich and confirm their Championship credentials.
West Brom's outspoken striker, who joined the Canaries on loan in midweek, has caused something of a storm with his comments ahead of tomorrow's clash at Carrow Road.
Speaking at a press conference convened to announce his arrival in East Anglia, Hartson paid Championship newcomers City scant regard.
He said: "This is a good game for myself. Bristol City are a newly-promoted side and, with the greatest of respect to them, it's not as if we have to go to Sheffield United or Watford."
City's players are determined to make the former Welsh international eat his words and midfielder Lee Johnson spoke for his team-mates when he warned Hartson and Norwich not to risk underestimating the visitors.
He said: "You'd expect that from John Hartson because of what he's done in the game. But if that's his attitude, then it's excellent for us. If he underestimates us by just one per cent, we'll capitalise on it and take advantage. He's had an outstanding career at the very highest level and he's entitled to his opinion. But I wonder if he's looked at the league table recently."
Currently fourth after 10 games, City will seek to heap further misery on opponents who find themselves in the relegation zone and short of confidence.
Without a win in six games, the Canaries have not scored a goal in 555 minutes of football.
"We've got to be confident," said Johnson. "Results have gone well for us and, after 10 games, the table doesn't lie. We want to go into Saturday's game and show Norwich that we are here and that we deserve to be in this league."
He added: "We believe in ourselves as individuals and as a team. We know what we are capable of. We beat Sheffield United in our last game and played some great soccer. Norwich will have seen that."
Placed in temporary charge following Peter Grant's resignation last week, former assistant Jim Duffy has been given two games in which to prove himself and will select the side to face City. And the caretaker boss is well known to Johnson, who played under him at Hearts.
"He's a strong character with strong opinions," revealed Johnson. "I'd say he will be quite aggressive in getting his opinions across to the Norwich players this week. I got to know him quite well, quite quickly at Hearts and I know what he's like. He'll have them fired up. Those players who were not getting in the team will see it as a fresh start. A change of manager also relieves pressure and can be the start of a run of form. But we'll go there confident in our own ability and looking to prove ourselves."
12 October 2007
Managerless Norwich are hoping to sign out-of-favour West Brom striker John Hartson on loan in a bid to solve their goal-scoring crisis.
The former Arsenal and Celtic frontman has fallen well down the pecking order at The Hawthorns following the summer arrivals of strikers Ishmael Miller, Roman Bednar, Craig Beattie and Bartosz Slusarski.
Hartson was already behind Kevin Phillips and Sherjill MacDonald before the quartet of new forwards were signed, so is even struggling for reserve-team football under Tony Mowbray, who is happy to let the 32-year-old move on.
The Canaries are desperate for goals after scoring just five in 10 league games, leaving them in the relegation zone with just eight points.
Their poor start to the season led to the departure of boss Peter Grant earlier this week, with coach Jim Duffy in temporary charge until a successor is appointed.
Former Wigan chief Paul Jewell is the hot favourite to take charge at Carrow Road - but the club are trying to arrange a loan deal for Hartson, according to the Daily Mail, in time for their next game, a home clash with Bristol City on October 20.
11 October 2007
Norwich chief executive Neil Doncaster maintains there has already been interest from several "high calibre individuals" to become the club's new manager.
Peter Grant left the Canaries by mutual consent on Tuesday evening, just under a year into the job, after their horrendous start to the new season.
The Norfolk side are currently third from bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship following the 1-0 defeat to fellow strugglers QPR which stretched their recent goal drought to six matches.
However, Doncaster revealed there have nevertheless been no shortage of potential suitors to the Carrow Road hotseat, with former Wigan boss Paul Jewell an early front-runner with bookmakers.
"There are a lot of high calibre individuals who have expressed an interest in this position and that is not surprising," said Doncaster.
"However, our position in the league table is just one of the factors that makes this appointment so important. We are not naive enough to think that there is a perfect manager out there. Certain managers are right at certain times for certain clubs."
Doncaster, though, would not be drawn on which names would soon make up Norwich's shortlist, some 12 months after sacking Nigel Worthington, the man who had led them into the Premier League in 2004.
"Speculation about individuals at this stage is not helpful and we won't engage in it," the Norwich chief executive said.
"We are keen to make an appointment as soon as we can - but we are certainly not going to be rushing it purely because we have got an AGM coming up next Thursday."
Doncaster added: "Some people look for blame in these situations and the board has a collective responsibility, but we are now focused on making the right appointment to take Norwich forward. The board will be busy identifying the attributes that it believes the club need to take us forward and looking at all possible candidates out there. Experience is one of the attributes we will be looking for. Peter clearly wasn't experienced as a manager."
Doncaster, meanwhile, rejected suggestions majority shareholder Delia Smith was set to sell her controlling stake in the club.
Reports suggested the television chef and husband Michael Wynn-Jones were close to selling their shares to fellow directors Andrew and Sharon Turner - Canaries fans who own a multi-million pound mortgage-lending company.
But Doncaster believes the couple - who took control in 1996 after the departure of former chairman Robert Chase - are set to stay at Carrow Road and help choose a new manager.
He said: "I've learnt in football to never make any predictions about the future and I'm not going to start that now, but certainly I have no reason to believe whatsoever that there is any truth in that sort of speculation. I have no doubt that Delia and Michael and the rest of the board have the best interests of the football club totally at heart and that will remain the case."
Jim Duffy will take caretaker charge of the club until a new manager can be found, with the Canaries' next fixture at home to Bristol City on October 20 following the international break.
11 October 2007
Highly-regarded Sligo Rovers defender Seamus Coleman has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad for Friday evening's friendly international against Sweden.
Manager Don Givens called up three players after goalkeeper Shane Supple, defender Darren Dennehy, midfielder Keith Keane and forward Keith Treacy were all ruled out.
And Coleman is a welcome addition having turned in some stellar performances for Sligo in the eircom League of Ireland this season.
The other call-ups are for Bristol City goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, who has been a regular at under-19 level in the past, and Everton's Aidan Downes.
The squad arrived in Sweden on Wednesday night to prepare for Friday's friendly in Uppsala, while they will then return to Ireland for Tuesday night's European qualifier against England at Cork City's Turners Cross.
Republic of Ireland under-21 squad (v. Sweden, 12/10/2007):
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic), Shane Redmond (Nottingham Forest).
Defenders: Stephen O'Halloran (Aston Villa), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), Alan Sheehan (Leicester City), Michael Spillane (Norwich City), Seamus Coleman (Sligo Rovers).
Midfielders: Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Stephen Quinn (Sheffield United), Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town), Alan Power (Nottingham Forest), Patrick Cregg (Falkirk), Aidan Downes (Everton).
Forwards: Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town), Anthony Stokes (Sunderland), Jim O'Brien (Celtic).
10 October 2007
Keith Gillespie has been named in Northern Ireland's squad for the team's Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden on Wednesday.
Gillespie was fined after an altercation with George McCartney prior to the team's flight back from Iceland last month and is named in a 19-man party, despite missing Sheffield United's defeat to Bristol City at the weekend through injury.
Luton midfielder Stephen Robinson has also been included by Nigel Worthington – Robinson won the last of his six caps against Azerbaijan in 2005.
After disappointing back-to-back defeats in Latvia and Iceland last month, the Northern Irish lie third in Group F, three points behind leaders Sweden and Spain.
The full squad:
Maik Taylor (Birmingham), Alan Mannus (Linfield), Michael McGovern (Celtic); Stephen Craigan (Motherwell), Tony Capaldi (Cardiff), George McCartney (West Ham), Aaron Hughes (Fulham), Jonny Evans (Manchester United), Gareth McAuley (Leicester); Keith Gillespie (Sheffield United), Steven Davis (Fulham), Sammy Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Grant McCann (Barnsley), Chris Brunt (West Brom), Stephen Robinson (Luton Town), Steve Jones (Burnley); David Healy (Fulham), Kyle Lafferty (Burnley), Ivan Sproule (Bristol City)
05 October 2007
Bristol City are still without injured striker duo Enoch Showunmi and Steve Brooker for the home clash with Sheffield United.
The pair are out with ankle and knee problems respectively but boss Gary Gary Johnson has no fresh concerns as he bids to halt a four-game winless run.
The Blades will be without Keith Gillespie and Gary Naysmith (both hamstring) while Nick Montgomery has pleurisy.
Australian midfielder David Carney is pushing for a start at Ashton Gate.
05 October 2007
Charlton manager Alan Pardew will be forced to make at least one change to his starting line-up for the visit of Barnsley.
The Addicks' appeal against Lloyd Sam's sending-off during Tuesday's 2-1 win at Hull was turned down by the FA, so the young winger starts a three-match ban.
Pardew has named the same starting XI for the past four Championship games but must now find a replacement on the right flank.
Darren Ambrose would be an obvious candidate, but he pulled a hamstring during the recent Carling Cup clash at Luton and remains doubtful so Jerome Thomas, who has been out in the cold of late, could be recalled.
Elsewhere, Ben Thatcher (knee) is still struggling so Chris Powell will continue at left-back, while fit-again Yassin Moutaouakil (ankle) will once again challenge Danny Mills for the right-back berth.
Svetoslav Todorov is pushing for a start ahead of Luke Varney and Chris Iwelumo in attack.
Barnsley boss Simon Davey is expected to name an unchanged side as the Tykes look to extend their five-match unbeaten run.
Davey has no new injury or suspension problems to contend with and is unlikely to change a winning line-up following the comprehensive midweek victory over previously unbeaten Bristol City.
Hungarian striker Istvan Ferenczi remains sidelined due to the ankle injury he sustained in last Saturday's home draw with Cardiff, so Davey must choose between Peruvian Miguel Mostto or Dane Kim Christensen again to partner Kayode Odejayi.
Rob Kozluk will be hoping for a recall at full-back after recently losing his place to fit-again Dominik Werling and Martin Devaney could play a more prominent role after stepping off the bench to score a late goal on Tuesday.
04 October 2007
Robbie Fowler could find himself in hot water with the Football Association after a row with Sheffield United supporters during the aftermath of Tuesday's game at Bramall Lane.
The Cardiff City striker, who scored a controversial penalty during the 3-3 draw with Bryan Robson's side, was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with at least two home fans as he made his way from the stadium to the team bus.
Eyewitnesses say that Fowler and his team mate Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were singled out for particular attention by United fans at the players' entrance.
But unlike the former Holland international, they claim that Fowler swore and responded in a manner which has prompted one to write a letter to Soho Square demanding that officials launch an investigation into his conduct.
Tempers were running high after a dramatic game which saw United surrender the lead before coming from 3-1 down to snatch a point with two goals in the last five minutes.
But with Keith Gillespie (hamstring) joining Gary Naysmith, Nick Montgomery and Derek Geary on the list of likely absentees from Saturday evening's visit to Bristol City, Robson has stepped up his effort to make at least one loan signing before the weekend.
Assistant manager Brian Kidd was scheduled to host this afternoon's press conference at Shirecliffe.
Meanwhile, United's decision to extend their youth development network to the east coast is already reaping dividends after the club's decision to offer Darren Clough extended schoolboy terms.
The 16-year-old from Scarborough impressed during a trial match against Bradford City and is now eligible to play for United's academy.
Clough was recommended to United by coaches at the town's school of excellence.
United stepped in to save the scheme after Scarborough Football Club went bust earlier this year and plc chairman Kevin McCabe has pledged funds to help build a new sporting facility in nearby Eastfield.
Representatives of Scarborough Athletic supporters' trust were at the Cardiff game.
