Scholes: I stopped enjoying it

Paul Scholes has revealed he retired from international football because he 'stopped enjoying it'.

The Manchester United midfielder quit the England fold in 2004 and he has now admitted the reasons behind hanging up his international boots.

"I'd stopped enjoying it," Scholes told the News of the World.

"Maybe it was just because I wasn't playing very well.

"I like being at home and there was an awful lot of time away from my family."

Scholes, who has 66 England caps to his name, produced rejuvenated form last season as he helped guide United to the Premier League title.

However, the 32-year-old has ruled out an England comeback, despite rumours pushing for his return.

"Quitting international football has helped me quite a bit," Scholes added.

"It's always nice to have a 10-day break in international week after so many games.

"I feel better for deciding. I'd like to think I can play longer than if I was playing for England.

"I have been lucky to not have too many serious injuries so I hope I can carry on like that."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Peter Fraser - Created on 22 Jul 2007

Southgate has Yak faith

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate remains confident that he will be able to call on Yakubu Aiyegbeni's services next season.

The Nigerian is understood to be unsettled on Teesside, but as yet no club have made a suitable approach to Boro.

The likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Portsmouth and West Ham are all thought to be keeping tabs on the situation - but Yakubu has started pre-season with Boro and Southgate wants it to stay that way.

"Yakubu is still part of my plans, absolutely," said Southgate.

"He has been with us in Austria and worked very hard with everybody else.

"I read the speculation the same as everybody else but we have had no contact from any other club.

"Whether people are trying to unsettle the player I don't know, but he seems very happy to be back with us having reported back from Nigeria and we are looking to him as being a big part of our team."

Meanwhile, former Hartlepool boss Martin Scott has been appointed Boro's new Under-18 coach.

"I’m really excited about the chance to work with Boro’s excellent young players," said Scott.

"The quality of players here is excellent and hopefully I can use my experience to help them."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Graeme Bailey - Created on 21 Jul 2007

Swede explains Wigan exit

Andreas Johansson admits the desire to play regularly prompted his departure from Wigan Athletic.

The Swedish midfielder has signed a three-year deal with AaB Aalborg in Denmark after a frustrating spell at The JJB Stadium.

During his two-and-a-half years with the club, Johansson was never able to establish himself in the team and started just four Premier League games last season.

Johansson concedes he enjoyed his stint in England, but needed to move on in order to play more often.

"I would have liked to have played more games and that's the only reason I want to move on," said Johansson in the Manchester Evening News.

"I've enjoyed my experience here and being involved in the incredible Wigan story."

Wigan boss Chris Hutchings had no complaints with Johansson's attitude and accepts it was 'frustrating' for AaB's new recruit.

Hutchings said: "Andreas worked tirelessly to get into the first team.

"Unfortunately he has never truly found a regular place, but not for the lack of trying.

"It's probably been frustrating for him, but he has never shown anything other than total professionalism.

"He's never complained, always had a smile on his face around the training ground, and I wish him all the best because he's been a pleasure to have around the place."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 21 Jul 2007

Fergie hopeful on Tevez

Sir Alex Ferguson remains hopeful Carlos Tevez will secure his summer move to Manchester United.

The Red Devils have been locked in talks for the Argentine star with Tevez set to undergo an Old Trafford medical later this week.

The deal has dragged on due to Tevez's contractual situation with United growing increasingly frustrated at the complexity of the transfer.

However, speaking after United's 2-2 draw with Urawa Red Diamonds, the Ferguson remains hopeful Tevez will begin the new season a Red.

"I hope Carlos Tevez arrives....things are bowling along," Ferguson told MUTV.

Second-half goals from Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo turned around a one-goal deficit and Ferguson was not too down about drawing their Far East opener.

"We tired a bit in the second half," he added. "Understandable really with the long journey yesterday - 14, 15 hours travel and they found it difficult to sleep on the first night.

"They've applied themselves very well I think, and played some good football at times. We managed to give a few of them a good run-out tonight so we're happy with that."

Buck: No rush on contracts

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says the club are in no rush to sort out the futures of John Terry and Frank Lampard.

The England duo have yet to agree new deals at Stamford Bridge with contract talks stalling between all parties.

It has been feared that the highly-influential pair could leave the club if they do not get the right offers with a number of top clubs keeping tabs on the duo's situation.

Buck is remaining calm about the futures of the duo as they both have two years to run on their current contracts.

"I'm hopeful we will be able to sort all these contracts out but it's not something where there are negotiations every day," said Buck.

"I don't see there's a great rush but I do think they should be done properly.

"When there's approximately two years to go you want to think about re-signing the players, assuming you want to keep them because it preserves their transfer values.

"But I don't think you have to sign them when it's exactly two years.

"Sure we would like to get them done but there's no deadline and there doesn't need to be."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Peter ORourke - Created on 17 Jul 2007

Mido set for Blues move

Tottenham Hotspur striker Mido claims he has agreed a transfer to Birmingham City.

The Egyptian has struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane since securing a permanent move from Roma last summer.

He has been linked with Fulham and Portsmouth, although Mido recently denied he had settled on a switch to Craven Cottage.

The 24-year-old now seems set to link up with Premier League new boys Birmingham after revealing talks have taken place.

Mido expects to move to St Andrews on an initial loan deal, which will become permanent, if Blues survive in the top flight.

"Both sides have agreed terms," Mido told FilGoal.com.

"I will move on a one-year loan deal to Birmingham worth £1million and at the end they could buy my contract for £5million, if the club survives in the Premier League.

"Birmingham's offer is the best I had received, especially that I chose to stay in England."

Blues boss Steve Bruce is also interested in Spurs midfielder Hossam Ghaly, and Mido would be happy to see his fellow Egyptian join him in the Midlands.

He added: "I would love to have him (Ghaly) with me in the same team."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 17 Jul 2007

Jose hopes for same Drogba

Jose Mourinho expects Didier Drogba to maintain his form next season, despite the striker again raising doubts about his Chelsea future.

The Ivory Coast international finished last season as the top scorer in the Premier League and rattled in 33 goals in all competitions.

According to Mourinho, Drogba has been looking sharp in pre-season training in California and the Chelsea boss is looking forward to seeing the hit-man back in action.

"When we remember last season, he was top scorer in the country and one of the best players also in the Champions League," said Mourinho.

"When I see him in training he looks so sharp and with only one week of work. His quality looks even better than last season.

"I think we will have the same Didier as last season. That, for us, is fantastic. As a striker and a team player it's difficult to find better."

But Drogba has again suggested that he could leave Stamford Bridge, if a suitably lucrative offer lands on the table.

"For now things are still fuzzy, not clear," Drogba told the Sun. "Yet any good offer could tip the scale in another team's favour.

"I have heard there are offers from Porto, Barca and the rest. But I've not made up my mind.

"There is no season I don't have many offers. I would love to stay in England. I want to improve on last season's performance.

"But any strong economic pull can make me change my mind. If I feel I'm not being take care of, I quit."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 17 Jul 2007

Johansson leaves Wigan

Andreas Johansson has left Wigan Athletic to sign a three-year contract with AaB Aalborg.

The Swedish midfielder failed to have a significant impact at the JJB Stadium following his £450,000 move from Djurgardens in January 2005.

He started just four games in the Premier League last season and made 40 appearances in total during his time with The Latics.

New Wigan boss Chris Hutchings has allowed Johansson to return to Scandinavia after a deal was struck with AaB.

The Danish club are delighted with the transfer after admitting to a lengthy pursuit of the 29-year-old.

"We have been wanting to sign Andreas Johansson for two years now and all the time he has been our top priority when it came to reinforcing our attacking midfield," sporting director Lynge Jakobsen told the club's official website.

"We have signed a player of an extremely high standard, but we are still looking for more new players."

Johansson's arrival at AaB will compensate for the loss of Rasmus Wurtz after he signed for Danish champions FC Copenhagen.

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 17 Jul 2007

New deal for Derby starlet

Teenage defender Lewin Nyatanga has agreed a new four-year contract with Derby County.

Nyatanga had just 12 months remaining on his previous deal, but is now tied to Pride Park until 2011.

The Wales international made 10 appearances for Derby last season, and also undertook loan spells at Sunderland and Barnsley.

Rams boss Billy Davies is delighted that the 18-year-old has pledged to stay with the Premier League new boys for the long term.

But, with Derby now playing in the top flight, Davies admits he is likely to send Nyatanga out on loan for the opening months of the campaign.

"We are delighted Lewin has signed because he is a young player with great potential, who is still learning the game," Davies told the Derby Evening Telegraph.

"He has made great strides for Wales on the international stage and has plenty of good experienced defenders in the Derby squad to learn from.

"I will sit down and look at the situation, but it may be that between now and the next transfer window we will look to give Lewin some more experience of first-team football by putting him out on loan and then bringing him back in."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 17 Jul 2007

Cole happy for life in the wings

Joe Cole believes plans to revert to the tried and tested will help Chelsea in their bid to regain the Premier League title.

Stamford Bridge manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he is to return to the 4-3-3 formation that served the former champions so well in their two Premier League title-winning seasons, prior to surrendering the crown to Manchester United.

Chelsea had favoured the formation, which saw two advanced wingers supporting a lone striker, in previous campaigns and Cole believes that it was only injury problems to vital players that enforced last season's strategic reshuffle to a diamond formation.

The 25-year-old missed the majority of the last campaign through medial knee ligament damage and a fractured foot, and he was joined on the long-term injured list by fellow wingers Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

However, having recovered fitness along with Robben and Wright-Phillips, Cole is now optimistic ahead of the new season.

"I think the 4-3-3 formation is our best formation," Cole told the Daily Star.

"I feel it's much better than playing the diamond formation but our hands were tied last season.

"I think the manager would have played 4-3-3 last season, but with so many injuries he had fewer options."

Mourinho has also added Florent Malouda, in a £13.5million move from Lyon, to the Chelsea squad and Cole sees the French winger as a welcome arrival.

"This year the squad is stronger, we are quietly confident, and Malouda has looked good," said Cole.

"He got himself a goal in his first game against Club America, looks a quality player and has great pedigree.

"Maybe as we've got four, maybe five, wingers we've got strength in depth and options now.

"I think the squad is as strong now as at anytime that I've been at Chelsea."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Peter Fraser - Created on 17 Jul 2007