| World Cup Hangover For African Heavyweights JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A World Cup hangover continues to linger over several of Africa's footballing heavyweights who were humiliated at the weekend in the early stages of qualifying for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals. feeds.nytimes.com |
London 2012 Olympics: West Ham's stadium bid backed by UK Athletics West Ham's hopes of moving into the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games received a boost when the UK governing body of athletics gave its official backing to the east London club's plans. telegraph.co.uk |
Carroll urged to focus after assault fine • Carroll fined £1,000 today after admitting common assault• Chris Hughton wants him to focus on 'doing what he does best'Newcastle's manager, Chris Hughton, has ordered Andy Carroll to concentrate on football after he was fined for common assault today.The 21-year-old striker pleaded guilty to the lesser charge – he had initially been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm – and was fined £1,000, ordered to pay nearly £1,500 in costs and £2,500 in compensation to the victim, Michael Cook."We are all delighted with today, but what everybody wants to do is just get back to watching him do what he does best, as he did [in the 2‑1 win] on Saturday at West Ham," Hughton said.It has been a difficult week or so for Carroll, who appeared in court last week charged with assaulting a former girlfriend – an accusation he strenuously denies – and then had his car burnt out on the driveway of his team-mate Kevin Nolan's home.However, his contribution on Saturday earned him more positive headlines and while Hughton is keen to keep his feet firmly on the ground, he knows there is potential in a striker who has the opportunity to establish himself as a local hero.The manager said: "We are very definite about what we say about him. He is still a young lad and he is still a young lad who has improvements in his game to make. We are conscious of not building him into something he isn't at the moment."But he has wonderful potential and he is a young lad who is playing regularly now in the Premier League and if you are able to do that, you are able to make progress."Hughton is likely to leave Carroll out of Wednesday's Carling Cup tie against Arsenal as he makes full use of his squad ahead of the derby with Sunderland at the weekend. In the meantime, he will be happy to leave Carroll in the hands of the club captain Nolan, with whom he is living under the conditions of bail arrangements.Hughton said with a smile: "Kevin looks after him very well. I think he arranges his supper at the right time and makes sure he is tucked up in very good time to get a full night's sleep. If the two of them can continue to score the goals and put in the performances they did [on Saturday], then I am quite happy with the arrangement."Nolan dragged Newcastle back into the game at Upton Park when he cancelled out Carlton Cole's opener from Carroll's knockdown, and he later paid tribute to his family for allowing him to take the younger man under his wing.He said: "Andy was fantastic, but I want to pay tribute to my wife and kids, who have handled the situation so well and been strong. Everybody read the papers and saw what happened, and knew what happened was wrong. It's been an emotional and upsetting week. But, as I say, the missus has been first-class and Andy's attitude on the pitch was first-class too. Football is what we are here for, and if we continue to perform like we did, we will be happy."Hughton, meanwhile, received a fresh boost today when the central defender Steven Taylor returned to full training, although he is unlikely to make Sunday's match with Sunderland.Newcastle UnitedSunderlandguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Could Wayne Rooney have averted defeat against Arsenal for 10-man Manchester City? Five things Wayne Rooney would have brought to Manchester City. telegraph.co.uk |
Keep faith with the Fury In these difficult expansion times, it’s all too easy to look back with hindsight and say, “we shouldn’t have gone to North Queensland or Gold Coast.” foxsports.com.au |