Terry, Henry to Make Comebacks, Papers Report: Soccer Roundup
By Ryan Mills
Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers.
TERRY, HENRY EYE COMEBACKS
Chelsea and England captain John Terry will this week play in a training-ground match and may recover from a back operation in time for the F.A. Cup third-round tie against Macclesfield in five days, the Sun reported.
The 26-year-old center-back is otherwise targeting next week's League Cup semifinal against Wycombe after undergoing surgery last week, the paper said.
Chelsea, which has conceded eight goals in four league games in Terry's absence, tonight visits Aston Villa as it seeks to cut Manchester United's Premiership lead to four points.
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry will play for the first time since November in tonight's match against Charlton, the Daily Mail reported. The Gunners' French captain has missed eight matches because of sciatica and fatigue and may return in the absence of the injured Robin van Persie and Julio Baptista.
PLAYER TRADES
Manchester City coach Stuart Pearce said reports the club had agreed to sell England defender Micah Richards to Chelsea were a ``blatant lie,'' the Daily Telegraph and Sun said.
Watford, bottom of the Premiership, said it signed 19-year- old striker Moses Ashikodi from Rangers and has also raised a bid for Fulham's Collins John, according to the Times. Watford will also compete with Portsmouth to sign Robert Earnshaw from Norwich, the paper added.
West Ham and Charlton are monitoring Watford winger Ashley Young, the Times said. West Ham, 18th in the 20-team standings after yesterday's 6-0 defeat at Reading, has about 15 million pounds ($29.6 million) to spend in January, the Telegraph said.
INJURIES
West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer will be out of action for six weeks after dislocating a shoulder at Reading, the club said on its Web site.
Tottenham's Hossam Ghaly lost four teeth after being kicked in the face by Portsmouth defender Noe Pamarot in yesterday's 1- 1 draw, the Guardian said. Pamarot later tore a groin muscle.
Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi will today have a scan on a neck injury sustained in the 0-0 draw with Watford. The injury may not be as bad as first thought and the Finn could still feel his arms and legs after landing on his head when clearing the ball, his agent Richard Cody told the Independent.
To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Mills in London on at rmills5@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: January 2, 2007 05:29 EST
By Ryan Mills
Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a roundup of soccer stories from U.K. newspapers.
TERRY, HENRY EYE COMEBACKS
Chelsea and England captain John Terry will this week play in a training-ground match and may recover from a back operation in time for the F.A. Cup third-round tie against Macclesfield in five days, the Sun reported.
The 26-year-old center-back is otherwise targeting next week's League Cup semifinal against Wycombe after undergoing surgery last week, the paper said.
Chelsea, which has conceded eight goals in four league games in Terry's absence, tonight visits Aston Villa as it seeks to cut Manchester United's Premiership lead to four points.
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry will play for the first time since November in tonight's match against Charlton, the Daily Mail reported. The Gunners' French captain has missed eight matches because of sciatica and fatigue and may return in the absence of the injured Robin van Persie and Julio Baptista.
PLAYER TRADES
Manchester City coach Stuart Pearce said reports the club had agreed to sell England defender Micah Richards to Chelsea were a ``blatant lie,'' the Daily Telegraph and Sun said.
Watford, bottom of the Premiership, said it signed 19-year- old striker Moses Ashikodi from Rangers and has also raised a bid for Fulham's Collins John, according to the Times. Watford will also compete with Portsmouth to sign Robert Earnshaw from Norwich, the paper added.
West Ham and Charlton are monitoring Watford winger Ashley Young, the Times said. West Ham, 18th in the 20-team standings after yesterday's 6-0 defeat at Reading, has about 15 million pounds ($29.6 million) to spend in January, the Telegraph said.
INJURIES
West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer will be out of action for six weeks after dislocating a shoulder at Reading, the club said on its Web site.
Tottenham's Hossam Ghaly lost four teeth after being kicked in the face by Portsmouth defender Noe Pamarot in yesterday's 1- 1 draw, the Guardian said. Pamarot later tore a groin muscle.
Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi will today have a scan on a neck injury sustained in the 0-0 draw with Watford. The injury may not be as bad as first thought and the Finn could still feel his arms and legs after landing on his head when clearing the ball, his agent Richard Cody told the Independent.
To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Mills in London on at rmills5@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: January 2, 2007 05:29 EST
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