Man City denied over Hiddink speculation

Manchester City have been quick to deny claims by Guus Hiddink that he was offered the manager's job at Eastlands in the summer.

The Dutch coach, currently in charge of Turkey, says he was approached by both City and Liverpool during the close season.
Hiddink says he rejected the approaches as he was not keen on a return to club management following his stint with Chelsea in 2009.
"In the summer City and Liverpool both came to me with an inquiry," Hiddink said.
"But at my age I don't want to manage a club again for seven days a week over three years."
Liverpool were strongly linked with Hiddink at the time as they were looking for Rafa Benitez' replacement - but instead opted for Roy Hodgson.
But City already had Roberto Mancini in place and they have insisted that no approach was made to Hiddink.
Liverpool were in the market for a new manager following Rafa Benitez's departure to Inter Milan.
But Hiddink's claim will cause huge embarrassment to City, who have insisted they have never looked to replace Mancini.
"We strenuously deny that we have ever spoken to Guus Hiddink or any other manager about the possibility of succeeding Roberto Mancini," Vicky Kloss, City's chief communications officer, told the Sunday Mirror.

Man utd tracking Jordan Henderson from Sunderland

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has confirmed that Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken with him about Jordan Henderson.

Manchester United and Manchester City are both thought to be keen on the highly-rated midfielder - who has just been handed his maiden call-up to the England squad.
The 20-year-old has been in excellent form for Sunderland over the last 12 months which has not only propelled him into the international scene, but has also seen him linked with a big money move.
And now Bruce has admitted that Ferguson has asked to be 'kept informed' over Henderson.
"Only once has Fergie talked about one of my players, and that was [Antonio] Valencia, and, bugger me he bought him!" joked Bruce in the News of the World.
"He had spoken to me about him. 'Keep me informed' were his words, then he signed him.
"He has sae the same about Jordan, but to be fair they have all asked to be kept informed.
"What has caught most of their eyes is his ability to get up and down the pitch now is huge. You looked at Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Cesc Fabregas , they are all great players but they can get up and down the pitch to get the mileage, and you need that in the modern game.
"He has caught the eye because he is a very good player. If you are Chelsea, Manchester United, or Liverpool, there is a 20-year-old who is playing in the Premier League week in, week out. There are not many you can look at.
"He is a Sunderland player, and a Sunderland lad and we will do our utmost to keep him but we can never stop speculation.
"He has huge respect for this football club and he will do the right thing. Jordan has a good grounding."

Roy cools over Glen Johnson form

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is shocked his assessment of Glen Johnson's form had created such a fuss and apologised for any perceived criticism.

The England defender has not been up to scratch this season but has been troubled by injury and missed the last three matches with a groin problem.
After the midweek draw with Wigan Hodgson gave an honest assessment of how he thought the right-back had been playing, saying he had not yet reached the level which made him a regular in Fabio Capello's side.
Reports emerged today claiming Johnson is unhappy at Anfield and that his relationship with the manager has deteriorated.
Just a few hours earlier, after the 2-0 defeat at Stoke, Hodgson said he stood by his comments, although they were not meant as a direct criticism of the player.
"We all want Glen Johnson to find his England form, but that has nothing to do with him being injured at the moment," he said.
"That was just a general comment that I think I was entitled to make.
"We have a player with ability and we are hoping he is going to bring that ability to the team because we want to use it help us win matches.
"It is no good being a player with great ability if you are not bringing that on to the field of play.
"We know Glen can and will do that but first and foremost Glen has to get fit and I'm hoping that will be the case by next Sunday (at home to West Ham) because he has made good progress.
"He as well as I knows this season he hasn't reached that form very often - it amazes me that when you make a statement of such obvious veracity people want to make headlines out of it.
"Everyone is saying what I am saying. I hope I am honest and I hope the players are honest.
"I didn't realise I had been accused of criticising him; I don't normally criticise my players and I'm sorry if that has been suggested."

Joey Barton has been banned for three games by the FA due to his violence conduct

Newcastle's Joey Barton has been banned for three games by the FA after accepting a charge of violent conduct, for which he has apologised.

The Magpies midfielder has said sorry to Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen for the punch that will earn him a three-match ban.
The 28-year-old had earlier been charged by the Football Association over an incident during Wednesday night's 2-1 Premier League home defeat by Rovers.
Barton said: "I fully accept that I was in the wrong on this occasion and accept the charge that the FA have brought against me.
"I would like to apologise to Chris Hughton, my team-mates, our supporters and of course to Morten Gamst Pedersen and Blackburn Rovers.
"This season, I have really been enjoying my football and although I have been on the receiving end of a few robust challenges, I have, up until now, remained calm in the face of provocation and just carried on with the game.
"But I hold my hands up, I reacted badly to the situation on Wednesday night and I deeply regret it.
"I have been working very hard to keep that side of my game under control and I think it has showed in the way I have been able to get on and enjoy my football this season.
"I look forward to trying to get back into the team once my suspension is over and helping the club maintain its good start to the season."
Barton will miss Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham and the following two games against Bolton and Chelsea.
That will come as a blow to Hughton, who has seen the former Manchester City midfielder establish himself as a key member of the side which currently sits in fifth place in the table despite the Blackburn defeat.
Hughton said: "We accept the action taken by the FA, and it is of course disappointing to lose Joey for three games.
"He has worked so hard on his game this season, but he knows that he can't react the way he did on Wednesday."
Barton was charged after match referee Mike Jones viewed video footage of the incident, which he did not see at the time.
It happened 50 minutes into the game while the official was cautioning Rovers' midfielder David Hoilett for diving.
Barton walked towards Pedersen, who had opened the scoring in the third minute and caught him with a punch to the ribs.
The Norwegian was treated at length on the pitch and later had a frank exchange of views with his attacker, who seemed to be suggesting it had been little more than a playful slap.
Barton's career has been littered with problems on and off the pitch, although having sought professional help, he has managed to avoid trouble and rediscover something like his best form this season.
His new-found tolerance was put to the test at Wolves earlier in the campaign when, in Hughton's words, he was "kicked from pillar to post", but did not react.
However, his frustration got the better of him last night and he must now face the consequences.
Hughton, who had earlier suggested the incident had only been given such prominence because of Barton's involvement, now faces the task of finding a replacement as the Magpies attempt to bounce back against Fulham at the weekend.

IAN WRIGHT wants his son Shaun Wright-Phillips to quit City

IAN WRIGHT wants his son Shaun Wright-Phillips to quit Manchester City in January's transfer window.

Wright-Phillips has made just six appearances this season as boss Roberto Mancini juggles his star-studded squad.
Arsenal legend Wrighty said: "I'd love him to get out of there on loan at least. We're talking about someone who is still in the England squad, so Fabio Capello obviously rates him.

"But when you're not playing regularly, it's only a matter of time before he stops getting picked."
Winger SWP, 29, came on as a sub in England's Euro 2012 qualifiers with Switzerland and Montenegro but has not started a league game for City since September 11.
SunSport columnist Wrighty added: "Shaun's finding it very hard to keep his spirits up.
"I can just see him getting further and further down the pecking order.
"I want him to go somewhere he'll get a fair crack at the first team."

Laurent Blanc interested to be Man Utd Manager

France head coach Laurent Blanc has confirmed he would be interested in succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager.

The 44-year-old former France international spent two years playing at Old Trafford until 2003 before hanging up his playing boots following an illustrious career.
Blanc is now in charge of France after leaving Bordeaux over the summer to replace Raymond Domenech following the nation's dismal showing at the World Cup finals in South Africa.
The ex-Barcelona, Marseille and Inter Milan defender has been tipped as a potential successor to Ferguson once he eventually retires and the Frenchman is not ruling himself out of the running.
However, for now, Blanc is focusing all of his efforts on helping France to qualify for the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine in two years' time and is not being sidetracked by club football.
"I could be attracted," Blanc told Reuters.
"It would be a very exciting challenge, very difficult, but conceivable if he presides at the process of his own succession.
"I would like it very much, but it would be difficult to find him a successor. He is at the helm for 24 years.
"Anyway, I am not concerned by that project so far. I have another challenge!"

Modric: Cattermole challenge was career threatening

Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric has accused Lee Cattermole of putting his career in jeopardy following the Sunderland captain's latest controversial challenge.

Lee Cattermole was booked for his tackle on Luka Modric and harangued by unhappy Spurs players

Cattermole was shown a yellow card for the tackle on the Croatian in Tuesday's 1-1 Premier League draw at White Hart Lane, which sparked a brief melee between opposing players.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce was convinced the challenge was fair but opposite number Harry Redknapp was adamant Cattermole should have been sent off for the third time this season.

And Modric, who stayed down for some time following the tackle, echoed his manager's sentiments, claiming his leg could easily have been broken by the challenge.

"Players who tackle like that need to think before making a tackle because they can ruin careers of friends and professionals," Modric said. "They just need to think about it.

"He should have been sent off. I can't show you now but there is a big swelling on my knee and he should have got a red card but the referee decided differently. When you see tackles like that, it is a little upsetting, and if they are not punished properly then even more so.

"For now, it is a little bit sore but I hope it will settle down. I jumped and if I stayed with my legs on the floor it would have been even worse, but I got out of the way at the last second.

"Maybe if I stayed on the floor I would have broken my leg but I jumped and that has probably saved me. Thank God everything finished well.''

Referee Howard Webb was also at the centre of the game's other big controversy, electing to book David Bentley for diving in the box following a challenge from Boudewijn Zenden.

A fourth league game without a win means Tottenham face an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive season, leaving them four points behind the top four having played a game more.

"If you look at the result, it is not good for us," Modric said. "We deserved to win. We should have had a penalty and maybe a red card (for them) and then it would have been a different game. But we need to focus on the next game and try to win.''