Morrison set for a return to Palace

SOCCER: Crystal Palace look like beating Norwich City to the signature of the Republic of Ireland and Birmingham City striker Clinton Morrison after having a £2-million bid accepted.

Norwich held talks with the Morrison on Friday after agreeing terms with the Premiership club. But Crystal Palace, Morrison's former club, have now entered the chase ahead of the transfer deadline on August 31st, with Southampton manager Harry Redknapp also refusing to give up his interest.

Morrison's Republic of Ireland strike partner Robbie Keane has received backing from his Tottenham manager Martin Jol, who has told Keane that he remains firmly in his plans despite leaving him on the bench for their home victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Spurs travel to Lancashire to play Blackburn tomorrow night as Premiership leaders with maximum points from two games and yet to concede a goal.

Goals from Jol's preferred strike force of Mido and England international Jermain Defoe put Spurs top of the table for the first time in three years.

Keane, who got in on the action as a second-half substitute against Boro, has been continually linked with a number of clubs including Everton, Newcastle and Aston Villa. But Jol, who sold Mali striker Fredi Kanoute to Sevilla last week for £4.4 million, is determined to hang on to Keane.

The transfer window expires at the end of the month and Jol knows that many of their Premiership rivals would love to have the Irishman in their side.

Keane has remained quiet about his situation but he has always stressed he places regular first-team football above anything else. He quit Leeds for White Hart Lane because he was spending more and more time on the bench instead of on the pitch.

But Jol said: "We had the same situation last year. Even today sometimes Defoe or Mido are not happy. Mido reads all the speculation and sometimes comes into my office and says 'what are you doing?'. Then I tell him that I am happy with him and the rest.

"Robbie scored 12 goals last season and is a gifted player. Everybody would like to have Robbie in their team but it is impossible. Don't forget he was injured for a week, otherwise I might have had second thoughts about playing him against Middlesbrough because Jermain played for England during the week. He started training last Thursday and hopefully Robbie can be involved in the next couple of games and be on top of his game."

Arsenal's midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has escaped serious injury despite limping away from Stamford Bridge on crutches as a precaution after the 1-0 defeat by Chelsea on Sunday.

Ljungberg injured his knee after colliding with advertising hoardings and was substituted midway through the first half.

Although an initial X-ray was clear, there were still fears he had suffered a hairline fracture or further damage which could have led to an absence of several weeks.

But the club's website yesterday reported: "Scans on Freddie Ljungberg's knee have revealed just bruising."

Ljungberg is still expected to miss tomorrow's home game against Fulham.

Meanwhile, John O'Shea has admitted he never even considered the prospect of quitting Manchester United this summer.

The Republic of Ireland international is expected to officially sign his new four-year contract this week, ending any hope Newcastle or Celtic might have had of prising him away from Old Trafford.

Although the 24-year-old's first-team starts have been rationed since the arrival of popular full-back Gabriel Heinze from Paris St Germain 12 months ago, O'Shea still made 37 appearances for United last term.

With Heinze given an extended summer break because of his Confederations Cup commitments with Argentina, O'Shea has started the first three games for United this term.

Alex Ferguson will probably recall Heinze for tomorrow's return clash with Debrecen as United look to defend a three-goal lead in Budapest.

But, while it may be the start of a lengthy spell on the substitutes' bench for O'Shea, he is more than happy to join fellow youngsters Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo in extending their United careers.

"I never wanted to go anywhere," he said. "I couldn't do anything about the speculation really. I suppose I could have come out and said something but I couldn't see the point because I knew I wanted to stay.

"Thankfully, everything has been agreed now, it is just a question of signing it all up."