Rooney pleads for central role
Wayne Rooney, one of the few England players to escape the underwhelming 5-1 win over Kazakhstan at the weekend with full credit, has pleaded with boss Fabio Capello "to be allowed to play in his preferred position through the middle," reports the Times. "The Man Utd striker was transformed at the start of the second half, when he was moved from a peripheral role on the left to a position in support of Emile Heskey up front, scoring two goals and contributing to a third. Capello is reluctant to indulge his star players, as he made clear to Steven Gerrard last week, although even the Italian may have to make an exception for Rooney."
"I can be more influential in a central position. I get on the ball more in the middle. But if the manager wants me to play left, then I’m prepared to do so" Two-goal Wayne Rooney pleads for more central action
Terry fights for match fitness
England captain John Terry, whose absence in the weekend fixture was all too apparent as his replacement Matthew Upson failed to convince alongside Rio Ferdinand, is to take part in a training session today that will determine whether he plays against Belarus in Minsk on Wednesday. "Terry spent yesterday working on exercise bikes, in the swimming pool and jogging with the England physio, Gary Lewin, in a bid to prove his fitness ahead of the trip to Minsk while the rest of the squad took part in a warm-down session," reports the Guardian. "Terry will not make the trip unless he is deemed fit to play and it would be understandable for Chelsea to want him back at their Cobham training base for treatment, in the hope of having him available for the weekend trip to Middlesbrough, if the back injury persists."
Real renew Ronaldo pursuit
The 'will-he, won't-he' transfer saga of the summer looks like being reopened come the winter transfer window, as Bernd Schuster, the coach of Real Madrid, has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo still wants to leave Manchester United to join the Spanish giants. "Real's pursuit of Ronaldo this summer was one of the most protracted and high-profile transfer sagas of recent years, and it infuriated United so much that they threatened to complain to Uefa," reports the Daily Telegraph. "It ended in disappointment for Madrid, with the Portugal winger opting to remain at Old Trafford. However, the 23-year-old Ronaldo has made no secret of his desire to play for Madrid one day and Schuster believes that a deal could be struck in 2009. 'I think there is a chance of Ronaldo joining Real next season. He really wants to,' said Schuster."
Dubai still retain Liverpool interest
Liverpool remain a target for the investment vehicle of Dubai's ruling family, despite their proposed takeover of Championship club Charlton Athletic. "The Londoners last week announced the receipt on an indicative offer from Zabeel Investments. The involvement of Sheikh Hamdan Al-Maktoum, son of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed, has been interpreted as the termination of the long standing pursuit of Liverpool," reports the Guardian. "Dubai, however, remains intent on buying Liverpool whenever the club's current owners are prepared to sell. Tom Hicks and George Gillett rejected an offer in the region of £500m earlier this year, but remain under pressure to fund the debt with which they purchased the club and to obtain finance for a new stadium."
Hamilton throws away Japan GP
Lewis Hamilton is in danger of repeating last season's disappointment, when he lost the drivers' title in the last couple of races, after he finished out of the points in the Japanese GP yesterday. "In his worst case of 'red mist' in two seasons in Formula One, Hamilton, who was on pole, could not resist a rash counter-attack on Kimi Raikkonen after the Ferrari got ahead of him at the start," reports the Times. "Even though Raikkonen had no realistic World Championship chances of his own, Hamilton lunged past, outbraked himself and was penalised for forcing the Finn off the track at the first corner."
"I didn't get the best getaway. I went down the inside and locked up and went straight on. If I was doing it again, I'd obviously do it a bit different" Lewis Hamilton holds his hands up after the Japan GP
Ballesteros vows to fight tumour
Seve Ballesteros, the Spanish golfer who was one of Europe's most successful ever, taking five majors in his extraordinary career, has vowed to fight the brain tumour he was diagnosed with last week with the same spirit that he played the game. "The Spaniard, 51, was admitted to a hospital in Madrid last Monday after a partial epileptic fit. He will now undergo a biopsy before doctors decide how to proceed. It is not yet known whether the tumour is malignant or benign," reports the Daily Telegraph. "'Throughout my career I have been among the best at overcoming challenges on the golf course,' Ballesteros said. 'Now I want to be the best confronting the hardest challenge of my life, with all my strength, counting on all of you who are sending me encouraging messages.'"
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