Soccer Shorts

'Good' career moveAndrew Johnson picked Everton for his return to the Premiership believing that it will boost his England career. The 25-year-old, Everton's record signing at £8.6 million from Crystal Palace, said: "Coming here will improve my international chances. It helps. Playing alongside established Premiership players can only benefit me," he said at Goodison Park yesterday.

Manager David Moyes revealed Johnson would not be his last big summer signing. "We may have something in a couple of days' time." That will be a new centre-half, with the likelihood now that Everton will pay £5.5 million for Wolves defender Joleon Lescott.

Hartson shocked

John Hartson is discussing his future with his agent, Jonathan Barnett, after being told he can leave Celtic. The Welshman is "shocked and disappointed" after the club reportedly accepted a £500,000 offer from West Brom. The Welshman wants to see out the remaining year of his contract and said: "I'm shocked and disappointed. I had no intention or desire to leave the club this summer and I would like the fans to know that."

Killester take title

Killester United, the last remaining non-league club in the FAI Cup, had double reason for celebration last night when a 1-0 victory away to Portmarnock was good enough for them to clinch the AUL Premier Division title. Sunday's surprise 1-0 win over fancied Leinster Senior League side Wayside Celtic at Golden Ball in the FAI Cup second round guaranteed Killester a place in the last 16 thanks to Mick Keogh's 93rd-minute goal. The icing on the cake was last night's triumph over Portmarnock. Substitute Thomas Keenan volleyed home the winner on 80 minutes after a neat interchange between Jason Donnery and Keogh.

Work permit sought

Liverpool hope to know within days whether their latest application for a work permit for Chile winger Mark Gonzalez has been successful. They will formally submit their second application for the 21-year-old today, having had a similar bid plus an appeal both rejected during the past 12 months. Gonzalez has been on loan at Real Sociedad since January. Liverpool had their first bid to sign Gonzalez rejected because Chile were not in the top 70 Fifa rankings and they were only initially trying to sign the player on a year's loan because of his injury problems.

New body launched

A new football body was launched yesterday to represent the interests of more than 57,000 players across the European Union on everything from racism to employment rights. The World Professional Footballer's organisation FIFPro, whose members include current World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, is setting up an "interest group" with MEPs.

Group chairman John Monks, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said their aim was to give players a bigger voice in the game."The story of trade unions in football is the story of a battle against feudalism and virtual slavery, at one stage, under the terms of contracts," he told a press conference in Brussels. "Every great player is one kick away from being an ex-player, so we must recognise this is a sector of workers which is vulnerable."