Arsenal
Midfielder Henri Lansbury would consider extending his loan spell at Watford until the end of the season. The 19-year-old has made a big impression at Vicarage Road, scoring twice in 14 appearances. Lansbury was a regular in the Gunners' Carling Cup line-up last term and admits the prospect of their forthcoming quarter-final at Manchester City is tempting. But the England Under-21 international is enjoying regular first-team football in the Championship and is leaning towards staying on with Malky Mackay's side. He said: "I'm not sure how long I will be there. The clubs are still speaking so I need to speak to the boss about that. But I just want to go out and play really so I would be happy to stay at Watford for longer. There is a bit of an ache there because I'd like to be part of the Carling Cup run but I just want to play football. I just wanted to get some more games under my belt and more experience. That's what I am doing at Watford and hopefully it will continue."Aston Villa
James Milner believes he is reaping the benefits of having greater experience than most players his age as the Aston Villa winger looks to secure an England World Cup spot. Milner is only 23 but has already clocked up more than 270 matches at domestic and various international levels - including his first senior England start against Brazil in Doha last weekend. Winger Milner said: "I'm getting more mature. It comes with playing a lot of games. You learn. I'm pushing nearly 300 games even though I'm still young. I started young, as a 16-year-old at Leeds, so it is an advantage that I've gained more experience than players my age. If you are in the first team, the amount of football that is played these days means you are never going to be short of matches. In one season at Newcastle I played nearly 60 games. But it is also about making sure you look after yourself and ensure you recover because the the games do come thick and fast."birmingham city
Alex McLeish has ruled out a possible return as Scotland manager. McLeish enjoyed a successful spell in charge of the national side before making the switch to Birmingham two years ago. But he has no desire at this stage of his career to take over from George Burley, who was sacked earlier this week. McLeish said: "Is it a job I would want to return to now? No. I've got a fantastic challenge here at Birmingham. I am really enjoying it and building a team and infrastructure which hopefully can keep us in the Premier League for a few seasons to come. I loved my time with Scotland, a fantastic journey which was part of my education in football and it is a phenomenal honour to manage your country. But I am very happy at Birmingham and will be even happier if we get to January showing the same performance levels of the last few weeks."Blackburn Rovers
Queens Park Rangers have completed the loan signing of Steven Reid from Blackburn. Reid has joined the Championship side on a month's loan in a bid to get valuable first-team action under his belt. Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is happy to loan out Reid as he looks to find his fitness after a lengthy spell on the sidelines over the last 12 months. QPR manager Jim Magilton believes the signing of Reid is a real coup and feels he will provide cover for injured duo Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands. Magilton said: "This is a significant loan signing for the football club. The fact we've been able to attract a player of Steven's calibre to the club speaks volumes of the board and the direction in which the club is heading." He's a class act. He can pass; he can tackle; he can shoot; he's box-to-box - he's a very, very good player."bolton wanderers
Sam Ricketts believes that there is an extra incentive to record a victory over neighbours Blackburn Rovers this weekend. Apart from the match being a local derby, the Wales defender has stressed that the players want to put in a strong response following the result at Aston Villa before the international break. He said: "Generally this season we have played well in the league apart from the game at Villa Park. It was one of those games where all of the outfield players had an off day and we need to write it off. But we can only do that by putting in a good performance and hopefully getting a win against Blackburn. All derbies are big games and it's bragging rights as much as anything. It's putting one over your local rivals, and the players feel that as much as the fans. You always want to win in general, but the fact that it is a derby does add something to the game." burnley
Goalkeeper Brian Jensen has not yet given up on his one final shot of playing at the World Cup. The Dane was drafted into the national squad in September for the World Cup qualifier at home to Portugal but has yet to feature for his country. That call-up was purely as cover as suspension had ruled out Stoke's Thomas Sorensen but the 34-year-old has been encouraged by the recognition and is determined to fight for a chance to go to South Africa this summer. He said: "When Denmark played Portugal I was on standby over there for the other two goalkeepers in case anything happened because Thomas Sorensen was suspended. I was basically cover but since then I hadn't really heard anything. At least now they have told me the door is open - but the only thing I'm thinking about is doing my best for Burnley. Hopefully that will be good enough, but it's not for me to say, it's down to the Danish manager (Morten Olsen). At the moment I'm probably fifth choice from his point of view, but hopefully I can fight my way into the squad. It will be my last chance, but fingers crossed I will do enough at the end of the season. Only time will tell." Chelsea
Carlo Ancelotti is ready to put his faith in youngsters Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini when the Blues lose Ivory Coast strike pair Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou in January. Chelsea have been linked with a £40m move for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero in the January transfer window but Ancelotti is also ready to hand his second-string forwards a chance to shine. Kalou and Drogba, along with Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi, will be on international duty at the African Nations Cup during January. But the Italian coach is confident Sturridge and Borini have the talent to ease Chelsea through a difficult period. Ancelotti said: "We have two boys with a great future: Sturridge and Borini. Borini is a very, very, very interesting 19-year-old from Bologna."everton
Mikel Arteta believes the current Everton squad is the best in a decade. Over the last few years David Moyes has gradually assembled a squad full of young, international quality players. Arteta himself is an excellent example of a player brought in for a bargain price who has flourished while on Merseyside. And the likes of Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar - to name just a few - have also proved themselves at the very highest level while wearing the Blue shirt. Arteta told the official club web site: "I think if everyone is fit it is the best team Everton has had over the last seven, eight - ten years, probably. We need to perform and do well as a group but we have a really good squad when we have out best eleven out on the pitch." Fulham
Simon Davies is ready to return to Barclays Premier League action as Fulham visit Birmingham City on Saturday. The midfielder said: "I'm hoping to be on the bench if the manager sees fit. It's always nice to go back to a ground where you have good memories as I scored the winner against Birmingham for Everton in 2005." Davies has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines following an ankle injury at the back end of the 08/09 campaign but the Welsh midfielder is hoping his injury worries are now well and truly behind him. He added: "I'm trying not look too far ahead and my first goal is to just get fit and then win a place back in the team. After that I want to enjoy another successful season and if we finish in the top ten I think that would be a great achievement after being involved in the Europa League. Personally If I can start maybe 20 games from now until the end of the season I would have done well considering the start to the season I've had. I'm obviously behind the other players fitness wise but if I can get back in the team and playing it will take me a couple of games to get back up to speed. With the competition for places we have it's always going to be difficult so I really have to hit the ground running if and when I get my chance. It's been a very frustrating six or seven months for me personally but looking at the positives I had a good three or four year spell of being injury free when I hardly missed a game so maybe these things come around. Maybe after this I can go on for another three or four years injury free."Hull City
Midfielders Nicky Featherstone and Will Atkinson have completed loan moves to League Two sides Grimsby Town and Rochdale respectively. Featherstone, whose two first-team appearances this season have come in the Carling Cup, will stay with Grimsby until 4th January. Atkinson, who has previously had loan spells with Mansfield and Port Vale, heads to Rochdale on a one-month deal.Liverpool
Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani may have to be patient for a little longer before getting his first start for Liverpool since his £20m summer move from Roma. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has played down claims the Italy international will start Saturday's home match with Manchester City. Aquilani has now recovered from ankle surgery but has so far managed one 15-minute spell in a reserve match and two similar cameo roles in senior matches with Arsenal and Birmingham. He said: "Alberto wants to play for us and he is so desperate to be involved as quickly as he can but he understands the reasons he cannot start yet. He wants to keep improving his condition and now it is just a matter of him keeping calm as it will not be long before he is there. He is pushing us all the time. He is very positive and wants to help the team now but you must remember that we have a responsibility to him, and we will not take any risks at this stage. We have got to keep analysing the situation and watching him in every training session but we know that the right time is nearly here. He has a very good mentality." manchester city
Mark Hughes expects Gareth Barry to shrug off a groin problem and face Liverpool on Saturday. Barry suffered some discomfort following England's defeat by Brazil in a friendly last week. Hughes said: "Gareth came back from the international with a little bit of soreness but it should not be a problem for the weekend."Manchester United
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be in the dugout at Old Trafford on Saturday when his side face Everton. The Football Association have confirmed Ferguson's two-match touchline ban does not start until 14 days after the disciplinary panel hearing, which was held last week. It means Ferguson will be in the stand on 28th November when United face Portsmouth at Fratton Park and then during the Carling Cup tie with Tottenham. Ferguson was given a four-match touchline ban, of which two are suspended until the end of the 2010-11 season, after admitting a charge of improper conduct.Portsmouth
Defender Younes Kaboul is looking forward to a physical battle with Stoke striker James Beattie on Sunday. Kaboul will face the former Southampton striker when Pompey tackle Tony Pulis' side at the Britannia Stadium. Beattie scored both goals in last season's 2-2 draw, just after Paul Hart succeeded Tony Adams as manager. But in-form Kaboul is confident he can control Beattie's threat in the air. Kaboul said: "I know he's strong and he always likes to fight the defender one versus one. But we will work to move out as a defence. We know all strikers in this league are good. Every week is another test, and this will be a hard one. I'm ready for a big fight, that is for sure. That is why I'm here."Stoke City
Winger Matthew Etherington believes he is at last showing the consistent form that saw him being talked of as an England prospect during his West Ham days. Etherington, who has scored three times in seven games, feels his confidence is at last returning and he is hoping for more of the same against Portsmouth on Sunday at the Britannia Stadium. Etherington said: "I have played a lot of 90 minutes lately, which has helped with my fitness and made me feel stronger. Beforehand, when my form wasn't as good, the manager(Tony Pulis) was taking me off after 60 or 70 minutes. But things are going well, I feel very confident at the moment and scoring a few goals has helped. I was once talked of as an England prospect, but I'd be daft to start talking myself up now with so much talent around."sunderland
Jermain Defoe says he did not mean to hurt Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon. Gordon fractured his arm following a clash with Defoe, during the Wearsiders' visit to Tottenham earlier this month. The Scottish goalkeeper was unhappy with Defoe's challenge but the England striker maintains it was not deliberate. Defoe said: "It was a funny one, the ball got played through and I thought I could get a toe in - but there was no intention to hurt him. So I talked to Darren Bent, to text him and apologise and I did that - I think he is out for a couple of months and I am sorry, he knows that is not my game."tottenham hotspur
Jermain Defoe was disappointed not to play against Brazil for England at the weekend but does not think it has any bearing on his World Cup chances. He said: "I think in the games I have played I have got my goals, and so the manager is happy. The other day it would have been nice to play, but I understand it was a chance for him to see players who haven't played." West Ham United
This year's Bobby Moore Fund Sports Ball, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, raised £154,000. Hosted by Stephanie Moore MBE and event Patrons David Seaman MBE and Gareth Gates, the Ball was a wonderful opportunity for sports fans and supporters alike to come together and celebrate the work of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. West Ham United, who are proud supporters of the fund, donated a popular auction lot - a number 10 shirt signed by Tony Cottee, Sir Trevor Brooking, Sir Geoff Hurst and Paolo Di Canio. This fantastic shirt alone raised over £1,200 for the Bobby Moore Fund. Another highlight in the auction was a 1966 World Cup presentation signed by all 11 members of the 1966 winning team, including Bobby Moore OBE, which raised £3,200. All the money raised on the night will go towards the Bobby Moore Fund's cutting-edge bowel cancer research and the work of Professor Dion Morton from Birmingham University, who is helping to improve the care given to bowel cancer patients during their treatment.Wigan Athletic
Midfielder Hendry Thomas is keen to see fellow Honduran players at the DW Stadium. The club have been linked with Johnny Palacios and Roger Rocas, who are both on the books of Olimpia. Thomas said: "It is great there is a link between Wigan and Honduras. Let's hope the flow of players can continue. It was always a dream of mine to come to Europe and play in the Premier League and I have realised that."wolverhampton wanderers
Central defender Jody Craddock has vowed the team have got what it takes to survive in the Barclays Premier League. Wolves face a daunting trip to league leaders Chelsea on Saturday having dropped in to the relegation zone after collecting just three points from their last six matches. They were beaten 4-1 by free-scoring Arsenal in their previous outing and will now come up against a Chelsea side who have scored 20 goals in their last six fixtures. Chelsea have also not conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge in their last nine matches, dating back to the opening day of the campaign. While Wolves are massive underdogs to pull off a shock this weekend, Craddock still believes they are not facing an immediate return to the Championship this season. He said: "We just need to keep playing our football. We've definitely got enough here, we've got a good bunch of lads, and a young, hard-working team. We know it's not going to be easy - it's going to be tough, but we've got enough here to see us through."
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