Birth Date: October 18 1974
Birth Place: Wrexham
Birth Nation: Wales
Height: 179cm
Weight: 70Kg
Nationality: British
Position: Midfielder
Robbie Savage Rumours and Transfers
14 10 2007
Robbie Savage has revealed he is concerned about his fitness as he is having problems with his recovery from his broken leg.
The Blackburn Rovers midfielder broke his leg last January against Watford which forced him out of action for six months.
Savage has made a successful return to action this season, but the injury is still niggling him.
The former Leicester man has been forced to limp out of three games this season after taking a knock the same leg and Savage concedes it is a worry for him.
"I had to go off last weekend because I got another whack on the shin. It's happening a lot," Savage told the Sunday Mirror.
Meanwhile, Rovers chairman John Williams has revealed the club are prepared to loan out unsettled striker Maceo Rigters.
Rigters has voiced his concern at his lack of first-team opportunities and his desire to go out on loan to gain some action.
Williams admits the club will discuss the possibility of loaning out the summer signing from NAC Breda.
"That's a discussion for Mark Hughes but it's a possibility. I know Mark is very happy with him, and he's happy at the club, but if it was felt that it was in the best interests of the players' development then we may consider it. We had numerous discussions about whether we should let Paul Gallagher go out on loan and we felt that it was, at least until January. It's just about grabbing opportunities and it's a consequence of having a good squad but also not having many injuries."
10 10 2007
Former captain Gary Speed has given a ringing endorsement to the football Wales are playing under John Toshack.
But Speed, who ended his international career just before Toshack took over as manager, believes Wales cannot afford to leave Premiership players out.
Robbie Savage, John Oster and Danny Collins are all absent from the squad.
"I think Wales have gone forward - I've watched Wales play some of the best football I've seen them play," Speed told the BBC's Sport Wales programme.
"But we're just struggling for players. You saw the difference Craig Bellamy made when he was injured for the Germany game and them came back for Slovakia - the difference was immense. For me as a Welshman, it's disappointing that Premiership players like Savage, Oster and Collins aren't playing. I think he (Toshack) should play them. I don't think Wales can afford not to have these players in the team or the squad."
It was reported that Speed had a training ground argument with Bolton manager Sammy Lee, after being left out of the 1-0 loss against Chelsea that left Wanderers in serious trouble near the foot of the Premiership.
Reports suggested Speed could step down as Bolton's player-coach, a role he took on at the Reebok Stadium after Sam Allardyce left to manage Newcastle and Lee took over.
But former Wales midfielder Speed told Sport Wales that his main focus was still on playing, insisting he had no desire to hang up his boots despite turning 38 last month.
"Coaching has given me an insight into what goes on behind the scenes, but when it comes to the actual practical sessions I'm still being coached as a player," said Speed, now the oldest player in the top-flight.
"Being a player is my primary objective. I've got no plans to hang up my boots at the moment. I'll keep going as long as I can, until someone says 'you've had enough'. I think I'll know in my own mind when it's time to finish. What keeps me going? First and foremost it's desire. That feeling of wanting to play, not getting fed up of going out on a Saturday and playing. I'm still as hungry and enthusiastic as ever. I do yoga two or three times a week. That keeps me supple and helps my ageing body!"
Speed is Wales' most capped outfield player, the former Newcastle midfielder making his international debut against Costa Rica in 1990 and picking up 85 caps before retiring in October 2004 at the end of Mark Hughes' reign as manager.
"We had two really good teams when I was involved," Speed said. "One was the early 1990s team that included the likes of Ian Rush, Dean Saunders and Mark Hughes. That was fantastic. And the other one was the one under Mark that reached the play-offs for Euro 2004 against Russia. In both instances, we felt we could beat anyone. It's not always as a Welsh player that you get that feeling."
01 10 2007
David Bentley claims that Blackburn have moved up a level this season, and is even comparing Rovers to Arsenal, the club at which the England international began his career.
Bentley, 23, played a key role in Blackburn's 2-1 victory at Sunderland on Saturday, maintaining his fine form this season by scoring the first goal.
Having won his first England cap last month when coming on as a substitute in the Euro qualifier against Israel, Bentley believes his own form is a reflection of how well Rovers are doing this season.
'We've moved on to a different level,' said Bentley, who left Arsenal to join Rovers on loan in August 2005, after spending the 2004-05 season on loan to Norwich City.
'When I first joined, we went into games trying to stop the opposition but that's no longer the case. In some ways, it's just like the Arsenal days because we have pace and quality all over the park.'
However, the former Arsenal trainee was booed on his England debut by fans still resentful that he withdrew, late, from the Under-21 European Championship campaign in Holland earlier in the summer.
Supporters of other Premier League clubs have also booed Bentley this season for the same reason, but he insists that the jeers only motivate him more.
'I'm getting it more than Robbie Savage – which is something. But if the crowd want a villain then I am quite happy for it to be me. Maybe they think it will affect me but it actually spurs me on so perhaps they should pack it in.'
