Rioch refuses to discuss link

Bruce Rioch was offering no hints last night over whether he is likely to be the new Sheffield Wednesday manager, following the sacking of David Pleat. The Queens Park Rangers assistant manager refused to be drawn on speculation linking him with the vacant Hillsborough post, saying only: "I have had no contact from Sheffield Wednesday."

But positive hints were more forthcoming from Loftus Road officials themselves, who seem to be clearing former Arsenal manager Rioch's passage northwards, if he decides to leave his post in west London.

A Rangers source yesterday confirmed: "Bruce has always said he is keen to return to top-flight management, so it would not surprise us if this were true, though we know no more than that."

Wednesday caretaker manager Peter Shreeves, meanwhile, has been given the kind of welcome boost the sacked Pleat was desperately hoping would keep him in a job.

Pleat always bemoaned the curse of an injury crisis which robbed him of the spine of his team.

Without defensive linchpin and captain Peter Atherton, striker Andy Booth and midfielder Graham Hyde, Wednesday have lost their last three Premiership games to hit rock-bottom in the table.

Ironically, however, just four days after Pleat's 29-month reign finally ended, the sidelined trio are set to make a dramatic return for the visit of Bolton.

The most startling comeback would be that of Atherton, because Pleat revealed just under two weeks ago that the inspiration of the team could be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury which has already sidelined him for seven weeks.

Booth has not played since a cartilage operation at the end of August, while Hyde has been on the sidelines for two months with an Achilles tendon problem, although both have recently been in reserve team action.

"The boys have responded superbly to the week's training. Everyone is tuned in to what's expected and everybody is looking forward to the game, including me."

Newcastle are on the trail of the hottest young prospect in Holland - Roda JC Kerkrade's Andre Ooiger.

Magpies' chief Kenny Dalglish and his assistant Terry McDermott watched the 23-year-old defensive midfielder perform in his side's 4-0 European Cup Winners' Cup victory over NK Primorge last night.

Although Newcastle have yet to follow up their interest in Ooiger, who was substituted 17 minutes from time, he admitted it had come as a pleasant surprise to learn they had been watching him.

"I am flattered by the attention of clubs, including Newcastle," said Ooiger. But I'm surprised their representatives didn't leave at halftime, I was so bad.

"However, I must repeat for the 1,000th time - I've no intention of leaving Roda until the end of the season."

PSV Eindhoven have bid £2million for Ooiger, while Liverpool, Southampton and German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen were also among the eight clubs who joined Dalglish in the stands last night.

Aston Villa manager Brian Little admits he will be facing a journey into the unknown when his side visit Steaua Bucharest for their UEFA Cup third round first leg clash on November 25th.

Little said: "The difference from the other ties this season is that we knew a lot about Bordeaux and Bilbao with their relative closeness to England and with their games being shown on television.

"But I am sure a lot of the lads are going to be coming up to me and saying: `Who are they, can we see videos of them, give us some information please.'

"We always do our homework on the opposition and our chief scout Peter Withe will be going to watch them this weekend.

"But that sort of preparation is going to be even more important this time as we don't know much about their players."

Little added: "I am pleased we are away because that has been the format for the first two rounds which has seen us go on and win the ties. Hopefully that will be to our advantage again."

Andy Cole and Chris Sutton were yesterday called into the England squad for the World Cup warm-up friendly with Cameroon at Wembley on November 15th.

Middlesbrough forward Paul Merson, a late call-up for the draw in Italy at the start of the month, is retained and there is also a place for West Ham defender Rio Ferdinand, even though he is due in action for the England Under-21s against Greece in Crete on Thursday.