Charlton have been rocked by the news that Svetoslav Todorov is facing a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The striker picked up the problem during the 2-1 defeat against Plymouth on Tuesday night and Addicks boss Alan Pardew is now anxiously waiting for the results of the scan on the injury.
The Bulgarian will definitely miss the game against QPR this weekend and Pardew will pick two from Luke Varney, Chris Iwelumo and Izale McLeod for the game against the struggling R's.
"Todorov is in hospital and that is bad news for us," said Pardew. "The two that get picked on Saturday [to face Queens Park Rangers] will have to come to the fore for us."
23 October 2007
Charlton will be without Chris Powell for the next three weeks after the player picked up an ankle injury.
The veteran defender sustained the problem during the defeat against Wolves at the weekend and boss Alan Pardew has confirmed he will be without the player for the next few weeks.
"Any injury to a 38-year-old is going to be serious, because they don't recover that quickly," Pardew told the club's website.
"But his ankle looks like keeping him out for two or three weeks. We've been unlucky in that we've lost Cory Gibbs and Ben Thatcher, so we've lost all three of them for the immediate future, which is disappointing. We have to deal with that, and hopefully the squad can cope."
19 October 2007
Freddy Eastwood will fight it out with Jay Bothroyd to earn a place in Wolves' line-up for Saturday's clash with Charlton at Molineux.
Eastwood has been a regular on the substitutes bench in recent weeks and had been publicly criticised by Mick McCarthy for his poor performances.
However, a rift has been denied by both parties this week and with Stephen Elliot set to miss the game with a hamstring injury, Eastwood or Bothroyd will come into the starting XI.
McCarthy will be without experienced defender Michael Gray, who is suffering from a hamstring injury which could keep him out for a couple of weeks.
Stephen Ward is aiming to be fit for the clash, but it is touch and go whether the striker will recover from tendonitis in time.
Goalkeeper Matt Murray and defender Rob Edwards remain sidelined with long-term knee injuries.
A win for Wolves could see them move into the Championship play-off positions and close the gap on the Addicks to just one point.
Matt Holland has been ruled out of Charlton's trip after suffering a calf injury in training this week.
The experienced midfielder, who only recently battled back to fitness following knee surgery, has torn his calf and faces another three weeks on the sidelines.
Andy Reid will be checked over by medical staff at The Valley after playing a second 90 minutes in the space of five days for the Republic of Ireland despite an ankle problem.
Alan Pardew's midfield is further depleted by the absence of winger Lloyd Sam, who serves the second game of his three-match ban.
Injury-jinxed USA defender Cory Gibbs has suffered another setback, fracturing three metatarsals on his comeback for the reserves this week.
Ben Thatcher (knee) is still sidelined so Chris Powell continues at left-back.
16 October 2007
Arsenal's Armand Traore has turned down the chance of a loan move in the belief his continuing improvement will be better served by staying with the Gunners.
The left-back - who only turned 18 last week but is said by Arsenal captain William Gallas to have "monster potential" - has already scored twice for the reserves this term.
He also produced an eye-catching performance when called up for Carling Cup duty against Newcastle in a 2-0 win last month.
And although he accepts that a loan move may still be beneficial one day he revealed: "I have spoken with the boss (Arsene Wenger) and he has said the position of official second-choice left-back is there for me. It doesn't mean it will be always there, though. So I must just keep trying hard in training and when I am asked to play, just show that I can do it."
Traore played regularly in the League Cup competition last season - including the final defeat by Chelsea.
Coca-Cola Championship Charlton are thought to be one of the clubs willing to take Traore - who signed from Wenger's former team Monaco at the start of last season - on loan and give him first-team experience.
But he added on his club's official website: "I think I am going to stay at Arsenal and still try to keep improving every day in training. I wanted to do that rather than go on loan, but when I speak to the manager (in future) and he tells me that it has to be done, then of course it will be done."
15 October 2007
Carlton Cole is hoping to establish himself in the West Ham side and go on to have a long and successful career at Upton Park.
The striker has spent time at five different clubs over the last six years, but is happy at West Ham after moving from Chelsea in June 2006.
"I'm settled at the club and I want to stay," he told Sky Sports News.
"This is the first time I've actually stayed at a club and done two pre-seasons with them, because normally I'm off in the second pre-season. I'm just happy that I'm doing well now and hopefully I can stay and do better things for the club."
Cole played for Alan Curbishley at Charlton in 2003/4 and he is delighted to have been reunited with the manager.
But he has only made six appearances this season, four as a substitute, and has yet to score.
"I'm happy that I'm working under Curbishley and I hope I can do well for him," said Cole.
"Every striker goes through times when they can't score but hopefully I'll get that one goal and then the floodgates will open."
15 October 2007
Martin Laursen has revealed the reasons why he wants to stay on at Villa after the end of his contract.
Not only is he struck by the club's history and heritage, not only is he in awe of Villa Park, but he enjoys a positive working relationship with Martin O'Neill and believes the club will be playing in Europe within two seasons.
The Danish defender has to prove to O'Neill that he is finally over the knee troubles that have dogged his career ever since his £3million move from AC Milan in May 2004.
Eight games into the season and O'Neill has been frequently waxing lyrical about his "Trojan, with the heart of a lion".
Gabby Agbonlahor, rather colourfully, came just as close to describing Laursen's all-action style when he said this week: "I think Martin Laursen would head a stone if it was chucked up to him! He'll head anything. He's a man-mountain. In training, everyone keeps away from him."
Now it seems just a matter of time before O'Neill gets Laursen and his adviser around the table to start talking contracts.
Laursen is in no doubt that he wants to extend his three-and-a-half year stay.
"This club could be playing in Europe in the next two years and I want to be part of it", he said. "Everyone wants to stay here and we all want success because we can all see this club is moving forward. It's got great potential. It's a great stadium and it's got a great history. It's the biggest club in the Midlands and a lot of fans come when we play well."
Laursen has long since held a debt of gratitude for O'Neill for the way the Irishman stood by him during a frustrating recovery process last season.
"We've also got a great manager," Laursen says with a firm tongue. "He's been very important to me. He's always been supportive to the extent where I've always been in the squad whenever I've been fit. He's always spoke highly of me both to me and to the media, so I have a lot of respect for him and a lot to thank him for. It's important in football and life in general that you put everything you can into whatever you do, because even if you don't play well, you can look yourself in the mirror and say: 'At least I tried my hardest.' That's what I did with my rehabilitation. I wanted to give it a go and not have any regrets afterwards."
Laursen spent an entire season in Bologna recovering from career-saving surgery.
Back then a new contract would have been out of the question. He was embarrassed just to be picking up his pay packet after handing back to Villa just three matches: a debut against Southampton, a draw at West Bromwich and a defeat at Charlton between August and late March 2005.
But with his recovery now complete, and with him now proving that his knees can last the pace of the Premiership, Laursen knows that talks cannot be too far away.
O'Neill will not want to lose his warhorse for nothing next June.
11 October 2007
Alan Pardew has denied that Arsenal midfielder Alex Song is training with Charlton with a view to another loan move.
The highly-rated midfielder impressed while on loan with the Addicks last season and reports had surfaced suggesting he was set for a second spell at The Valley.
Although Pardew has dismissed such talk, he has not completely ruled out the possibility of making another move for the midfielder in the future as he is always keen on good players.
"There's no truth in the stories that Song has been training with us," he said. "We are always interested in quality players but I don't want to talk about people who are under contract at other clubs."
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).
09 October 2007
Wolves are hoping to sign Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson on loan during the international break.
The Republic of Ireland man, 19, is currently recovering from a toe injury.
However, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is hoping to complete a three-month deal in time for their next Championship game, against Charlton on 20 October.
Meanwhile, Wolves' Nigerian midfielder Seyi Olofinjana, 27, has signed a new contract which will keep him at Molineux until the summer of 2011.
Olofinjana's current deal would have expired next summer.
But he told the club website: "I didn't want to go away to the African Nations Cup in January, then come back and have all the speculation."
08 October 2007
Michael Owen is happy to play through the pain barrier for both club and country as he continues his amazing return from surgery.
The 27-year-old Newcastle striker made a typically influential return to action as a substitute against Everton just nine days after undergoing a first bout of surgery and eight after the second to score what proved to be the winner.
He will join up with the England squad on Tuesday ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia insisting he is fully fit, but admitting he is still dealing with the after-effects of his visit to renowned German specialist Ulrike Muschaweck.
Owen said: "Everyone knows you can come back from surgery and play. It is just about managing the discomfort. That doesn't stop you from playing. The surgeon said as long as you can manage the pain, you can do what you want because it's not going to get any worse. Unbelievably, it feels great because I have been training since Thursday."
England boss Steve McClaren was in the crowd at St James' Park on Sunday to witness Owen's match-winning cameo, and can expect a call from Sam Allardyce outlining where he believes his £17million frontman is in terms of his recovery.
Allardyce diplomatically declined to reveal what he would tell McClaren, but the man himself is confident he is ready to resume his pivotal role in the qualification campaign, and his pursuit of Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record.
He said: "The surgeon tells me nothing can go wrong in terms of the op. It is much stronger than when I went in. Believe it or not, that's how it feels. Even when I feel a bit tight like I did Wednesday or Thursday last week, you just plough through it and it gets better, if anything. I will listen to the surgeon and nobody else. She has performed thousands of operations before and she knows what she is talking about. I don't see any risk in me playing. It's not like I am pushing myself to get back and play for England. Everyone can see that coming back in eight days to play for my club shows a bit of determination, and I wanted to get out there against Everton. I am feeling good for both teams that I represent."
Newcastle dominated the first half and deservedly went ahead through Nicky Butt's 42nd-minute strike, the Magpies were pegged back by half-time substitute Andrew Johnson within eight minutes of his arrival, and then lost their way.
Indeed, had it not been for last-ditch blocks by Claudio Cacapa and Abdoulaye Faye to deny Victor Anichebe, they might have trailed going into the final 10 minutes.
But it was then that Owen started to make his mark.
Having already forced a smart save from Tim Howard down at the foot of his near post, it was his 86th-minute cross which was cleared to Emre, who took a touch before smashing a 25-yard drive into the bottom corner.
The Turkey international returned the favour on the stroke of the final whistle when he dropped a free-kick on to Owen's forehead, and he duly obliged with the help of the underside of the crossbar to wrap up the points.
In an eventful conclusion to the game, Shay Given could only help Mikel Arteta's deflected cross into his own net in injury time, but the damage had been done.
Given said: "I was disappointed with that, but luckily for me, it hasn't cost us any points. For us, it was important to take the three points because we have the international break. We are all going away for internationals and we didn't want to set off without getting the win. There is a big break and it was nice to get back to winning ways."
Everton boss David Moyes left the north-east a disappointed man having revealed that Johnson was due to undergo ankle surgery this morning, although he refused to blame Thursday night's UEFA Cup trip to Ukraine for a slow start by his side.
He said: "I don't know, I couldn't tell you the answer to that. I didn't think we played particularly well in the first half, but we got better in the second half. In the second half, we nearly deserved something, but we just could not quite get there."
