SOCCER SHORTS:ALEX Ferguson has pledged to field a youthful line-up as Manchester United seek to overcome a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the English League Cup semi-final against Nigel Clough's Derby tonight (live on Sky Sports 1, kick-off 8pm).
New Serbian winger Zoran Tosic could make his debut, while Darron Gibson, Rodrigo Possebon, Rafael and Danny Welbeck can expect to play at Old Trafford.
However, Ferguson did introduce Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo during the second half at Pride Park last week, so a strong bench can be anticipated as well should United find trouble overcoming the Championship side.
Paul Connolly and Jordan Stewart return from suspension to boost Derby’s ranks.
But striker Nathan Ellington, who is on loan from Watford, will miss the match after suffering a hamstring injury.
Defender Claude Davies has recovered from a hamstring injury and could be among Derby’s seven substitutes.
Jose's Jenas swoop pure fantasy
INTER Milan manager Jose Mourinho has denied reports linking him with a €11 million swoop on Tottenham for midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
The former Chelsea manager has blamed his pre-season fantasy football selections for a national newspaper for starting such rumours.
Mourinho said: “Last July the Daily Telegraph started their fantasy football league and paid me to take part. In my squad I put Jenas and others. Six months later the market re-opens and it comes out I like these players.”
Tottenham have been boosted by the news that the hamstring injury sustained by captain Ledley King in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth is a strain rather than a tear.
And there is also good news for striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, who should make a swift recovery from an ankle knock.
Iberia to submit 2018 World Cup bid
SPAIN and Portugal have formally agreed to submit a joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
The combined bid has been mooted for more than a year and was finally confirmed two weeks ago.
Portugal’s football federation president Gilberto Madail and his Spanish counterpart Angel Maria Villar Llona signed an official agreement in Lisbon yesterday.
Fifa have issued a deadline of February 2nd for letters of interest to be submitted.
Spain and Portugal will be tough rivals for England as they can expect full support from the three South American representatives on Fifa’s 24-man executive committee who will make the decision in December 2010.
Other countries bidding are Australia, and another joint bid from Belgium/Netherlands. Russia, China, Qatar, the United States and Japan may also enter the contest for 2018 or 2022.
Arshavin bid is still not enough
ZENIT St Petersburg have dismissed Arsenal’s revised offer for Andrei Arshavin as “insufficient”. The Russian club had already rejected a preliminary €11 million bid, but sources last night suggested the deal for the midfielder was still on track and could be completed this week.
“We don’t think €13 million is enough for this player,” Zenit’s spokesman Andrei Petov said. Commentators in Russia believe Zenit are prepared to sell Arshavin for a figure closer to €16.5 million.
Connor becomes Doolin's first buy
DAN Connor has followed Paul Doolin from Drogheda United to Cork City, making him the Dubliner’s first signing for his new club.
The arrival of the goalkeeper on a free transfer at Turner’s Cross will add to the uncertainty over the futures of Michael Devine and Mark McNulty, both out of contract.
The former has described as “a joke” an offer of around half the wages he was on with City last season and has had talks with Waterford United.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)