TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Surgeon says Owen Hargreaves is ready to play for Manchester United • Injury-hit midfielder could play on Saturday, says Dr Steadman• Has not played meaningful game for United for two yearsOwen Hargreaves' surgeon has suggested the injury-plagued midfielder will make his comeback for Manchester United in Saturday's Premier League match with West Bromwich Albion.It is now over two years since Hargreaves played a meaningful senior game for United after he was struck down by an acute form of tendinitis in his knees, which he first experienced during his time at Bayern Munich.Two operations and an extensive period of rehabilitation seemed to have put the 29-year-old back on track by the end of last season, when he completed 45 minutes in a reserve game and was then introduced as an injury-time substitute at Sunderland at then end of last season when United's hopes of winning the title had all but ended.Yet Hargreaves' hopes of being fit for the start of this season were wrecked when he experienced more discomfort after his return to training, and he was dispatched back to Colorado by Sir Alex Ferguson for more work with Dr Richard Steadman, who has built his reputation rescuing the careers of people like Ruud van Nistelrooy.Hargreaves is aware there cannot be many more attempts to salvage his career, and knew his return to England would probably represent his last try. But Steadman has spoken optimistically about the midfielder's recovery."Owen should play some part on Saturday," he told BBC Sport. "Our physical therapist, Luke O'Brien, has been working very closely with United's coaches on his rehab."It's been a long road back and there have been some setbacks along the way. But I've got a lot of admiration for the way Owen has responded – he's worked very hard and has never given up. Things are looking good for him now."As Hargreaves has been omitted from United's 25-man Champions League squad, he is restricted to domestic action until January, so a more obvious comeback date would be the Carling Cup tie with Wolves on 26 October.United have not confirmed themselves that Hargreaves will be available to play at the weekend.Manchester Unitedguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
England's Fabio Capello backs struggling Wayne Rooney after Montenegro draw England manager defends striker as side slump to disappointing goalless draw in Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro. telegraph.co.uk |
England Say 2018 Race Still Wide Open ZURICH (Reuters) - England have said that the race to host the 2018 World Cup is still wide open and will be decided by three days of hectic wheeling and dealing before Thursday's vote." feeds.nytimes.com |
Panorama exposés: From Jason Ferguson to the Glazers Panorama have a history of looking into football-related mattersFather and Son 2004The programme claimed Sir Alex Ferguson's son Jason had exploited his father's position as Manchester United manager to set up transfer deals and make a financial gain from them. Jason Ferguson was never found guilty of any wrongdoing but his father has refused to speak to the BBC since.Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets 2006Following the setting up of Lord Stevens's inquiry into illegal transfer payments in the Premier League, the programme alleged that leading figures, including Harry Redknapp Kevin Bond and Sam Allardyce, had been involved in impropriety. All those involved denied any wrongdoing and Bond sued the BBC for libel after losing his job as the Newcastle United assistant manager before dropping the case in June 2009. The Football Association and the Premier League investigated the Panorama evidence before Stevens issued his final report in June 2007, which found "there was no evidence of irregular payments to club officials or players".Fifa and Coe 2007The episode focused on Fifa's ethics committee, run at the time by Lord Coe, and its failure to take action over a number of suspect dealings, including the allegation that the Fifa executive Jack Warner had asked John McBeth, the former chairman of the Scottish FA, to pay him personally for setting up a friendly between Trinidad & Tobago and Scotland. The programme also looked into Warner's failure to pay the T&T national team bonuses for competing at the 2006 World Cup, a matter which has now been taken up by a judge in Port of Spain.Manchester United – Into the Red 2010 Following a season in which many United supporters had made evident their opposition to the club's American owners, the programme claimed the Glazers have a debt of close to £1.1bn. "In their core business in the US they got it absolutely wrong," said the presenter Andy Green as he detailed how four of the Glazers' 64 shopping malls in America had gone bankrupt due to insufficient revenue growth and the owners' inability to keep up with interest payments.Sir Alex FergusonManchester UnitedJack WarnerBBCSachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Clint Dempsey backs under-pressure Fulham manager Mark Hughes Fulham striker Clint Dempsey insists manager Mark Hughes has the backing of the club's players. telegraph.co.uk |