Fabio goes for goals at Wembley
Fabio Capello wants England to go for goal when they take on Kazakhstan at Wembley on Saturday. He has been looking at an attacking formation featuring Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard supporting a front three of Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey. Matt Lawton and Neil Ashton in the Mail write that "Fabio Capello is urging his England players to overcome their fear of Wembley by building on last month's demolition of Croatia with an all-out attacking performance against Kazakhstan. The message from England's manager is 'to play every game as if it is your last' and for two days in training he has been experimenting with an exciting new formation."
"They need to play with confidence - the confidence that I see them playing with for their clubs. But also they need to play every game as if it is their last." Fabio Capello outlines his expectations
Game 39 is back on the agenda
The Premier League's controversial Game 39 proposal has unexpectedly reared its head after the president of the Asian Football Confederation, one of the idea's biggest opponents when it was suggested earlier this year, has announced he would now 'welcome' the idea of hosting Asia. David Conn in the Guardian reports: "Mohamed bin Hammam, speaking in London yesterday, said his initial rejection of the idea last February had been prompted by 'shock' after having had no prior discussion with the Premier League. Since then he has met the league's chief executive Richard Scudamore several times and has been persuaded that if an international round does go ahead, the Premier League and its clubs will operate as 'partners' and help develop football across the continent."
Jimenez leaves Newcastle
Newcastle United fans can cross one name off their hitlist after it was announced that Tony Jimenez, one of Mike Ashley's much-maligned 'Cockney Mafia', was leaving the club. Rob Stewart in the Telegraph writes that: "In a brief statement, the St James' Park club announced that Brixton-born Jimenez has quit his role as vice president (player recruitment) in order 'to pursue other interests'. It marks the end of a stormy spell at Newcastle for the former Chelsea steward was appointed to the boardroom by owner Mike Ashley last January along with director of football Dennis Wise." However, there has been no suggestion that Wise would be following suit.
Wilkinson to miss Six Nations
Jonny Wilkinson has been ruled out of the Six Nations tournament because of a dislocated knee. The World Cup winner picked up the injury in a match against Gloucester ten days ago and expected to be out for four months, but the Newcastle fly half has now been advised that he will not be fit to play until the spring. Owen Slot in the Times reveals: "Wilkinson had surgery a week ago and he said yesterday that in all probability he will not be back to play for Newcastle until early March. He will also need further surgery towards the end of this year to establish whether the first operation has been a success. However, he was quick to deny any suggestion that his career may have been ended."
"I'll just nail one thing, though: the idea that this might be the end of my playing career. Forget it. It's not a consideration." Jonny Wilkinson vows to battle on... again
Twenty20 payday back on
England's cricketers can rest easy knowing that in these hard times they are still in line for a massive payday after the sponsorship row that threatened their Stanford Twenty20 match against a West Indian XI has been settled. As Owen Gibson in the Guardian writes: "A deal was struck after talks between Digicel, the telecoms company which pays $4m a year to sponsor West Indies, and the match organiser, Sir Allen Stanford. The deal represents a victory for Digicel after a high court ruling in its favour this week. The company will have its name on the shirts of the Stanford Superstars team for the $20m six-match series - the key concession it had been fighting for after the news that its telecoms rival Cable & Wireless was to be a sponsor."
Hamilton edges out Massa
Lewis Hamilton recorded the third fastest lap in the first practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix, with title rival Felipe Massa posting the fourth quickest time. Toyota's unfancied Timo Glock produced the fastest time of the day, and Fernando Alonso was also faster than the two title rivals. Hamilton won the equivalent race last year and leads the title race this time round, but despite being favourite to take the drivers championship he will not have it all his own way. Edward Gorman in the Times writes: "While last year it was a three-way fight at this stage between Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen, this time only Hamilton and Massa are in with a realistic chance. For both men there is much at stake. Hamilton would become the youngest world champion in history, only the second man to achieve a title in his second season and the first British champion since Damon Hill in 1996."
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