Today's other stories in brief
Andrews signs new Blackburn deal
BLACKBURN midfielder Keith Andrews has committed his long-term future to the club after signing a new four-year contract.
The Republic of Ireland international, who joined Rovers a year ago from MK Dons, was the subject of interest from Premier League rivals Fulham earlier this summer.
However, that inquiry was rebuffed by Ewood Park officials and instead the versatile 28-year-old has been rewarded with a new deal.
BIRMINGHAM manager Alex McLeish has played down speculation that he is to make a bid for Reading’s €5 million-rated winger Stephen Hunt.
Although acknowledging Hunt’s qualities, the former Scotland boss insisted he was not uppermost in his thoughts.
He said: “It’s not true. I am not about to sign anybody at the moment. We’ve got to count our pennies . . . But Hunt is a good player.”
Unhappy Mascherano wants to move to Spain
LIVERPOOL midfielder Javier Mascherano is keen to secure a move to Spain as he has grown “tired of life in England”, according to his agent.
The Argentina international is a reported target of Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the midfielder remains part of Reds manager Rafa Benitez’s plans.
However, Mascherano’s representative, Walter Tamer, has claimed the 25-year-old has grown unsettled in the Premier League and is eager to move abroad.
Tamer is quoted by Infobae.com as saying: “Barcelona is the easiest deal to set up as Javier wants to go to Spain. He is tired of life in England.
“His wife has not been given a permanent visa. She has to go through an odyssey each time she wants to go.
“Liverpool refuse to sell, this can be overcome with an extraordinary offer.”
Players banned over betting
FOUR players who bet on an English League Two match involving their own clubs were banned for between five months and a year by the English FA yesterday.
James Harris, Robert Williams and David Mannix, Accrington Stanley players at the time, and then Bury player Andrew Mangan were found to be in “blatant breach of the rules” by the FA after betting on visiting team Bury to win on May 3rd, 2008, the FA said on its website.
Harris, who played in the match which Bury won 2-0, was suspended immediately from soccer for a year, while Mannix and Williams were banned for 10 months and eight months respectively. Mangan was banned for five months. They also were fined between €2,300 and €5,700.
“The FA rules restricting betting by players (and others) on matches or competitions in which they are involved are vital to ensure public confidence in the integrity of football and the absolute straightness of all football matches,” the FA said.
Nasri break not as bad as feared
ARSENAL midfielder Samir Nasri’s broken leg could heal in six weeks, manager Arsene Wenger said yesterday.
“It’s not a complicated one (break), its a simple one but it will take six weeks to heal,” Wenger told the Premier League club’s website.
The north-London club had said the 22-year-old France international would be out for two to three months after breaking his fibula in training on Tuesday.
JOHN Terry has reached an agreement in principle to remain at Chelsea despite persistent interest from Premier League big spenders Manchester City, with the England captain expected to reaffirm his commitment to the club publicly before the weekend.
TOTTENHAM have signed Sheffield United fullbacks Kyle Naughton (20) and Kyle Walker (19) for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said yesterday.
Mikel signs five-year Chelsea deal
NIGERIA midfielder John Obi Mikel (22) signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea yesterday.
“My future with the new manager (Carlo Ancelotti) will be bright, and I think we have a good working relationship already,” Mikel said.chelseafc.com).
Meanwhile, Chelsea dominated former boss Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl yesterday to get their World Football Challenge campaign off to a winning start in Pasadena, California.
Goals from Didier Drogba in the 11th minute and a Frank Lampard penalty just after half-time gave Chelsea the victory over the Italian champions in front of 81,224 fans.
In Bangkok substitute Sutee Suksomkit scored a stunning second-half equaliser to earn Thailand a surprise 1-1 draw with Liverpool yesterday after Ryan Babel put the Merseysiders ahead after six minutes.
Eriksson eyes Premier League
SVEN-Goran Eriksson has set his sights on taking Notts County all the way to the Premier League after signing a five-year contract at Meadow Lane. The former England boss was unveiled as director of football at the League Two side yesterday. Eriksson said: “I always said I wanted to come back to the Premier League. I chose a little bit of a difficult way to do it I think. It will take a few years, but I think we will do it.”
