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)
09 October 2007
The Football Association has charged Ipswich boss Jim Magilton with using abusive and/or insulting words following Town's 2-2 draw at Burnley earlier this month.
Ipswich had to settle for a point after leading 2-0 at one stage, but Magilton was particularly upset with the decision to disallow Pablo Counago's late effort for offside.
After the Turf Moor clash he had said: "It wasn't even close. Pablo was three or four yards behind the ball. How it was ruled out is beyond me. It was a bad decision and cost us two points."
Magilton has until 23 October to respond to the charge.
04 October 2007
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has warned French star Charles N'Zogbia not to allow himself to go the way of Michael Ricketts.
The 21-year-old will link up with his country's under 21s squad next week for games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Romania after an excellent start to the new season despite being asked to play out of position at left back.
N'Zogbia has won rave reviews for his performances to date after a wasted 2006-07 campaign after injury and speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal contributed towards a difficult year for him.
However, he has prospered under Allardyce since he replaced Glenn Roeder at St James' Park, and is starting to show once again the ability which led Sir Bobby Robson to fight so hard to lure him away from Le Havre.
But while Allardyce has been delighted with his contribution to date, he has ordered the youngster to keep his feet firmly on the ground after seeing Ricketts lose his way.
Asked if he is pleased to see N'Zogbia making an impression at international level, he said: "Yes, but as long as that does not affect him in the wrong way. That can happen to young men when all the other boys start talking to him about this, that and the other. All of a sudden, he's disgruntled again. It can be a good thing, but it can also be a very destructive thing. You know, I saw a player play once for England, and he is now playing at Oldham Athletic. He's called Michael Ricketts. It affected him that badly. He let himself get carried away by the situation, and his career ended up declining."
Then Bolton striker Ricketts was handed a senior England cap by Sven-Goran Eriksson against Holland in February 2002 after plundering 15 goals for Wanderers in a blistering start to the season, but after an alarming slump in form, was sold to Middlesbrough during the following January.
Having struggled to make an impact at the Riverside Stadium, he left on a free for Leeds 18 months later and after loan spells at Stoke, Cardiff and Burnley and permanent moves to Southend and Preston, is now playing his football at League One Oldham at the age of 28.
Allardyce may have the option of returning N'Zogbia to his preferred midfield role as Everton head for St James' on Sunday as he looks for greater creativity in midfield.
Summer signing Jose Enrique, a £6.5million capture from Villarreal, played the full 90 minutes for the reserves against Manchester City in midweek and could now be ready to start a Premier League game for the first time.
But whoever plays at the back this weekend, Allardyce will demand a much better performance after seeing his defence capitulate at Manchester City last Saturday.
The Magpies led 1-0 at Eastlands courtesy of Obafemi Martins' deft finish, but slumped to a 3-1 defeat as midfielder Elano helped tear them apart at the back.
The absence of Elano's compatriot Claudio Cacapa through a groin injury may have had much to do with that, and Allardyce is hoping to be able to welcome the 31-year-old former Lyon skipper back into the fold for the visit of David Moyes' men.
He said: "The last time he played, we beat West Ham 3-1, and we did not see that type of defending from anybody against Manchester City. I think he would have taken a grip of them with just Emile Mpenza up front. He would have been able to read the situation much better - but it was not to be. But he should be okay for Everton on Sunday."
04 October 2007
Portsmouth's new midfield powerhouse Papa Bouba Diop is relishing a quick return to former club Fulham on Sunday and insists he has no fear of the hostile reception which players traditionally receive from fans of their old clubs.
There may be no place quite like home for Portsmouth, who have again turned Fratton Park into a fortress this season with three wins in five games and draws against Manchester United and Liverpool, but Craven Cottage has become a home from home for their fans who will pack the Putney End in familiar style this weekend.
They have already snapped up nearly 3,000 tickets - with Fulham responding by releasing an extra 1,000 to them and reminding visitors they can also pay on the day.
And Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, who will have Diop and Sean Davis, another former Fulham star in his midfield, declared: "Fulham is always a great place to go for us. That away end will be filled up with our supporters and, with the noise they make, it will be almost like a home game for us. We had a terrific 3-1 win there the year we made our big escape from relegation and it was only a last-minute equaliser which stopped us winning again there last season."
Senegal giant Diop, who joined Pompey in a £3million move from Fulham on the last day of the August transfer window, told the club's official website www.portsmouthfc.co.uk: "We go to Fulham confident after the win against against Reading last week. And I'm happy to go back to Fulham because I made a lot of friends while I was there. Changing your club is just a part of football and today I'm very much a Portsmouth player."
The 6ft 5in ball-winner whom Fulham fans nicknamed 'The Wardrobe' during his three seasons at the Cottage, said: "I came here for a new challenge and I'm very pleased with the start I've made. I'm enjoying myself doing the job I'm paid to do - with a lot of very good players around me."
Diop, who made his Pompey debut in a goalless draw with Liverpool, has had a four-match unbeaten run with Pompey - three of them wins, including his appearance as a substitute in the 1-0 Carling Cup success at Burnley and a dynamic performance in the 7-4 romp against Reading.
But he warned: "It will be a very different game at Fulham than the one against Reading. I don't think we will go forward as much and it will be a big test for us because Fulham had a hard game at Chelsea last week and took a good point. Maybe a draw would be a good result for us but I think it will be a good game."
Boss Redknapp, whose team could face former Pompey players Diomansy Kamara, Alexei Smertin and Dejan Stefanovic, has just one major selection dilemma.
His main striker Kanu missed the Reading goal-feast with a knee injury but the Nigerian's replacement Benjani Mwaruwari hit a hat-trick.
Redknapp said: "Kanu's knee is still a bit sore. He has been having treatment and we'll see how he is on the day. Benjani's hamstring is a bit tight and causing him discomfort but if they are both fit it is a nice problem to have."
04 October 2007
West Ham United's Christian Dailly has been recalled to the Scotland squad for their forthcoming Euro 2008 Group B qualifiers against Ukraine and Georgia.
Christian Dailly has taken the place of Sunderland's Russell Anderson, who along with Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is ruled out through injury, in Scotland manager Alex McLeish' squad for the upcoming Euro 2008 Group B qualifiers against Ukraine and Georgia.
Derby County striker Kenny Miller is back after missing the victories over Lithuania and France through a hamstring injury.
And Sheffield United full-back Gary Naysmith is also fit again after a knee ligament injury and included in the squad.
Dailly had been dropped from the squad for the matches against Lithuania and France but earns his recall because he is now playing more regular first-team football while on loan from West Ham to Championship side Southampton.
McLeish said he believes that Miller has benefitted from the move to the Premier League in England and has no fears about the striker's fitness. Miller scored on his Derby County debut against Newcastle following his transfer from Celtic, and was again on target in the 1-1 draw with Bolton at the weekend.
"Kenny is back playing again, which is good to see," said McLeish. "He has had a great start down there and it hasn't been a backwards step for him."
McLeish added: "Naysmith has had a wee tweak on his hamstring at the weekend, but our doctor has been in contact with the Sheffield United medical people and he should be okay. I spoke to Gary and he says, if selected, that he would be very much available. Experience is the keyword, he has great experience and that is what we need at this crucial stage of the competition."
While Dundee United captain Barry Robson and Derby defender Jay McEveley keep their places, overall, McLeish has stayed faithful to the players who have taken Scotland to the top of Group B.
Scotland welcome Ukraine to Hampden on 13th October, then travel to play Georgia four days later.
On the injured Fletcher, McLeish said: "To lose players of that calibre is always a loss, but we have shown that we can cope without key players."
Scotland squad:
Goalkeepers: Gordon (Sunderland), Marshall (Norwich), McGregor (Rangers)
Defenders: Alexander (Burnley), Caldwell (Celtic), Dailly (West Ham), Hutton (Rangers), McEveley (Derby), McManus (Celtic), Naysmith (Sheffield United), Weir (Rangers)
Forwards: Beattie (West Brom), Boyd (Rangers), McFadden (Everton), Maloney (Aston Villa), Miller (Derby), O'Connor (Birmingham).
03 October 2007
Jim Magilton watched his Ipswich side squander a two-goal lead before drawing 2-2 at Burnley and then admitted he felt "robbed" by the decision to disallow a late Pablo Counago effort.
The Tractor Boys are still searching for a first win on the road in the Coca-Cola Championship this season despite being handed the ideal platform to end their away-day blues at Turf Moor.
Sylvain Legwinski and one-time Claret Alan Lee both scored inside the opening 10 minutes with neat headers before Burnley mounted a tremendous fightback.
Kyle Lafferty pulled one back and Andy Gray netted a fortuitous equaliser to set up a grandstand finish.
And Ipswich looked to have won it late on when Tommy Miller and Counago exchanged passes inside the penalty area before the ball was squared for the latter to slot home from close-range, only for the linesman to eventually rule it out.
The result - and the decision - left Magilton to rue what could have been.
"I think it was a shocking decision," said Magilton, whose side have now shipped 11 goals in their last four away league games.
"It's a really bad decision which has cost us three points. The linesman didn't give it, then he's waited and waited and gave it and I think robbed us of three points. He's (Counago) behind the ball by two or three yards and it's a goal."
Magilton, however, was full of praise for the way his team started after stunning the home crowd with an impressive first-half showing.
He added: "I thought we played very well in the first half against a very good side. Again it was a pattern of our season that we played very well without scoring goals. We scored two good goals and then another pattern of our season we fell asleep and allowed them back in the game. We knew at half-time with Burnley 2-1 down at home they would come back at us. I thought we showed a lot of courage and passed the ball well at times and the very least we deserved is a point."
Burnley's stirring comeback was overshadowed by the news influential defender Michael Duff faces a lengthy spell out with a knee problem.
Duff did not feature against Ipswich but manager Steve Cotterill revealed after the game the severity of the injury sustained in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.
"It's a big blow for us, a big blow," conceded Cotterill. "Michael has had an operation tonight and his lateral ligament has snapped off the bone. His hamstring tendon has snapped off the bone as well and he's snapped his cruciate ligament. But the worst part is he's going to have to go back in (to hospital) in six to eight weeks because it depends on when it will settle down. That's where we are with that but we'll deal with it."
Cotterill - who has now masterminded a six-game unbeaten streak in the league - also paid tribute to Burnley's "character" but bemoaned their sluggish start.
He added: "It was a very eventful game. All in all I think we could have won it and I think their goalkeeper has pulled off a couple of great saves. But we've got to start better. The annoying thing is we talk about it and we were conscious about it before the game but there's a couple of people in the dressing room who are having steep learning curves."
01 October 2007
Ipswich manager Jim Magilton is preparing to ring the changes after his team's embarrassing 3-1 defeat against Hull at the weekend.
David Wright is likely to be reinstated at right-back after missing Saturday's loss at the KC Stadium with an infected blister and may replace Alex Bruce in the Tractor Boys' defence for the trip to Burnley.
"I wanted to play at Hull but it was painful and the manager had to make a call on it so that's fair enough," Wright told the club's website.
The lively substitute performance of former Fulham midfielder Sylvain Legwinski was one of the few positives to be taken from the weekend and he will start in midfield.
Danny Haynes will be named in Magilton's starting XI, with Alan Lee the man sacrificed.
Long-term absentees Gavin Williams and Richard Naylor remain sidelined although Naylor is hoping to make an appearance for the reserves in a fortnight.
