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Fenlon heads up list for personality of the year

BOHEMIANS manager Pat Fenlon leads the list of nominations for this years Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Personality of the Year Award, the winner of which will be announced on January 15th, writes Emmet Malone.

Fenlon, who has won the award twice in recent years, is joined on the shortlist by fellow managers, Michael O’Neill of Shamrock Rovers and Sligo’s Paul Cook and Liam Buckley of Sporting Fingal.

Shamrock Rovers striker Gary Twigg and Sligo’s Rafael Cretaro are the only two players in contention for the award.

Brian Murphy, Chris O’Connor and Darren Quigley of Bohemians, Bray Wanderers and Sporting Fingal respectively, are the nominees for the goalkeeper of the year award.

Sporting Fingal, meanwhile, have signed former Shamrock Rovers full back Ger O’Brien from Derry City. The 25-year-old had attracted interest from a number of clubs in Scotland but has decided to return to Dublin and the newly promoted cup winners.

Beckham keen to play United

AC Milan’s David Beckham wants to play former club Manchester United when the draw for February’s Champions League last 16 is made tomorrow. The 34-year-old, who joins Milan in January for a second loan spell from the Los Angeles Galaxy to try to secure his England World Cup place, left United in 2003 having won the 1999 European Cup with his boyhood club.

“I would really like it if we draw my old club. Since I left in 2003 I have not gone back to play at Old Trafford (as a club player),” he said.

“Seven years have gone by and I want it to happen. Me against United, great no? It would be very difficult but also very exciting.”

Beckham, who acknowledged he might not walk straight into the side at the second-placed Serie A club, also said he wanted England to meet Italy in the World Cup final next July. Asked if England were among the favourites for South Africa, he said: Yes, we can say it without any problems. England are a very ambitious team; however they are not the only ones.”

Messi makes immediate impact

LIONEL Messi scored within two minutes of coming on as a substitute to help Barcelona complete a 3-1 comeback win over Mexicos Atlante yesterday and reach the Club World Cup final.

Forward Guillermo Rojas put the Concacaf champions ahead in the fifth minute and midfielder Sergio Busquets equalised after 35.

Ballon d’Or winner Messi came off the bench in the 53rd minute and put the European champions ahead almost immediately.

Barcelona increased their lead when a fine run down the left and into the box by Andres Iniesta ended with Pedro scoring from close in.

Barca meet Argentinas Estudiantes, the South American champions, in the final on Saturday.

Worthington still waiting word

NIGEL Worthington has confirmed he has not yet been approached by Sheffield Wednesday about the vacant manager’s job.

Northern Ireland coach Worthington, who spent 10 years at Hillsborough as a player, put his name forward following the departure of Brian Laws “by mutual consent” on Sunday.

Worthington told Sky Sports News: “I would be interested as my contract with the Irish Football Association is coming up in the next two weeks.

“That would have been the same if it was any other club. Talks are ongoing with the Irish Football Association and hopefully we’ll get things sorted out.

“These things take a little bit of time and need patience. It’s just one of those situations (that the Sheffield Wednesday job has come up). I haven’t applied for the position and they haven’t approached me.”

Zamora continues hot run of form

BOBBY Zamora continued his hot run of form as Fulham defied plunging temperatures in Switzerland to secure their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League at the expense of Basle.

The much-maligned striker has now scored four in his last three games and he led the powerful Basle defence a merry dance all evening.

Zoltan Gera put Fulham 3-1 ahead with a neat side-footed finish after Basle had profited from a dubious penalty awarded against Chris Smalling and converted by Alexander Frei.

Although Basle set up a nervous last few minutes with a late second by Marco Streller, Fulham held out to join group-winners AS Roma – plus the likes of Champions League losers Liverpool, Juventus and Atletico Madrid - in the last 32 of the competition.

Bjorn Helge Riise supplied both crosses for Zamora’s double strike just before the interval.

Gascoigne arrested

FORMER England star Paul Gascoigne was yesterday arrested for being drunk and disorderly, police said.

The former Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder was taken into custody in the early hours of the morning following a disturbance in the Jesmond area of Newcastle.

Gascoigne (42) who has faced a long battle with alcohol, was arrested at about 2.15am after police arrived at Jesmond Park West.