Newslines: Davies goes home

Kevin Davies yesterday ended his brief and unhappy spell at Blackburn as he returned to Southampton in an exchange deal that took Norwegian striker Egil Ostenstad to Ewood Park.

Rovers paid £7.25 million for the former Chesterfield forward 14 months ago and they will receive a cash adjustment of up to £1.2 million in the future depending on appearances.

Newcastle United yesterday tried to off-load one influential figure, Robert Lee, to Liverpool, a few hours after another, Sir John Hall, returned from his Spanish retreat to measure the scale of discontent at St James' Park.

Should Newcastle go down to a fourth consecutive defeat on Saturday at home to Wimbledon, Ruud Gullit's credibility as manager would be left in tatters. Bobby Robson is favoured to fill any vacancy. Hall tried to lure the former England manager back to his native Tyneside after Kevin Keegan's resignation two years ago.

Lee did not learn of the Liverpool development until yesterday. The Newcastle hierarchy, judging that Liverpool needed a midfielder and were capable of paying Lee's wage, offered the former England player at a knock-down price. It was a deal that smacked of Gullit's desperation to rid himself of the man closest to Alan Shearer. But Liverpool rejected the offer.

Dundee United have completed the signing of teenage midfielder David Byrne from Shelbourne. The 19-year-old player has signed a two-year contract with the Tannadice club after he impressed in a pre-season trial.

Manager Paul Sturrock said: "He is a player of potential who I hold in high regard and will blossom into first-team material given time."

Nicholas Anelka has hit back at France manager Roger Lemerre's criticism of his £23 milion move to Real Madrid. "It was always my intention to stay only two years playing for Arsenal," he said. "For me the dream was always to play in France for Marseille or in Spain for Real. I was called greedy, but it was not about money."

Sheffield Wednesday's manager Danny Wilson has accused an agent of unsettling his Brazilian defender Emerson Thome by offering the player's services to other clubs. Wilson has threatened to report Tony Henry to the FA. Henry denies the allegation.

A United Ireland team will come together for the first time in the Carling Master Home International Tournament in September. The Irish team to play in the six-a-side tournament, which will be held in Manchester, will include players such as Paul McGrath, John Aldridge and Ray Houghton from the Republic and Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson from Northern Ireland.