Tim Cahill says skipping Australia’s June friendlies has benefitted him.The 31-year-old Everton midfielder struggled through the second half of last season with a foot problem but is feeling fresh after taking a break during the European summer.

Everton’s Socceroo Tim Cahill says he has greatly benefitted from a rare break over the off-season after skipping Australia’s June friendlies against New Zealand and Serbia.

The 31-year-old midfielder was a key part of the Australian sides which competed at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.

Cahill, who scored nine goals for Everton before Christmas last term before aggravating a foot injury while on duty with the Socceroos, opted to miss Australia’s friendlies to give himself a well-earned break.

“Everyone needs a rest. It’s common sense. There are a lot of players at every club who play internationals year-in year-out,” Cahill told the Liverpool Echo.

“Last season in two competitions, the World Cup and the Asia Cup. I’ll never turn that kind of opportunity down, so the rest has been good.”

“The two games I have missed had two good points – other players were getting a chance to play for their country and I had 180 minutes where I didn’t have to play.”

Cahill has been enjoying pre-season with his team-mates at Everton as they prepare for the new Premier League campaign.

“For me, I’ve never done a pre-season properly from the start with the team because I’ve been playing internationals,” Cahill said.

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“So to train with them straight away has been easier for me, I don’t have to come back later and fit in a mini pre-season.”

“Coming back earlier has benefitted me and I already feel really good.”

Fabio Capello named his England squad for the midweek friendly against Holland and suggested that he wouldn’t ever pick Joey Barton for the squad claiming his attitude is too much of a risk for the national set-up. There were few surprises in the Italian selection, although the decision to include Danny Welbeck ahead of Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent raised a few eyebrows.

In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include David Dein gives his full backing to Arsene Wenger; Glazers set to sell a percentage of shares at Manchester United, while Rodney Marsh slams QPR owners.

*

Modern players are short on mental strength, says Mancini – Guardian

Wenger is best for Arsenal – Dein – BBC

Barton too ‘dangerous’ for England – Guardian

Welbeck’s England call up – Daily Telegraph

Glazers to ‘sell off’ United! American owners plan share sale to slash debt – Daily Mail

Henderson taking his lead from Wilshere in search for the top – Daily Mail

Manchester City paying £400,000 a week for Mancini’s contract ‘rebels’ – Daily Mail

Hoops legend Marsh slams ‘idiot’ QPR owners for failing to splash the cash – Daily Mail

Arsenal set to sign Southampton star this week – Mirror

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Redknapp: You would have to be barking mad to be England boss – Mirror

Pardew targets unity at Newcastle but admits glory days are over – People

Everton ready to swap Rodwell for Peter Crouch – People

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After a bright start to the season, the last minute equaliser scored by Blackpool caused some fans to start spitting their dummies.  That’s how ridiculously quickly Brighton’s expectations have risen.  Three wins out of four represents an excellent start to life back in the Championship, one that the club and Gus Poyet will be very satisfied with.  Next up, the visit of Sunderland in the Carling Cup marks the next challenge for the Seagulls, and there will be plenty of optimism at the Amex.

Sunderland, having lost the Tyne/Wear derby on Saturday, will be looking to bounce back, but they certainly won’t have things all their own way.  As well as being without Craig Gordon, John O’Shea, David Meyler and Fraizer Campbell, the senseless sending off collected by Phil Bardsley means that he will be suspended.

With Ashley Barnes and Craig Mackail-Smith both in scoring form, and Will Buckley as well, Poyet has plenty of fire-power at his disposal.  Buckley is questionable due to a hamstring tweak, as is striker Will Hoskins (hip), but there aren’t too many problems besides.

Aston Villa welcome Wigan to Villa Park on Saturday looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season but also end a run of four consecutive draw.

Alex McLeish saw his side pegged back at the death against QPR last week with Richard Dunne’s cancelling out a second half penalty converted by the impressive Barry Bannan. Despite avoiding defeat in their opening six games they have won only one and performances have hardly been inspiring with new boss McLeish opting to tighten the Villans defence before getting to work on the attacking side of their game. He has, however, invigorated Gabriel Agbonlahor who looks a different proposition under the former Birmingham and Rangers boss. A lack of firepower was evident at Loftus Road last Sunday in a laboured display and McLeish will be looking at summer signing Charles N’Zogbia to provide more out wide after a mediocre start to his career in the Midlands. The former Wigan man scored the equaliser in last seasons corresponding fixture but will be out to haunt his former club on Saturday.He could be joined in the starting eleven with Darren Bent and Emile Heskey back from injury. Jermaine Jenas could also make his first appearance in a Villa shirt since joining on loan from Tottenham.

Villa Park is a happy hunting ground for The Latics who have yet to taste defeat during their six Premier League visits conceding just two goals in the process. Manager Roberto Martinez was a target for Villa in the summer as they sought to replace Gerard Houllier but opted to remain at the DW Stadium and has presided over decent start to the campaign. The Spaniard was unhappy with his sides showing in last week’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham. They’ve taken only one point from three games on the road so far and will be confident of picking up their first win away from the DW at Villa. They’ll travel to the Midlands without key players Hugo Rodallega and Antonio Alcaraz who are both injured whilst Emmerson Boyce is unlikely to be rushed back into action from a hamstring problem. Steven Gohouri will also miss out after his sending off against Spurs.

Key Players 

Gabriel Agbonlahor – Three goals so far this season only scratches the surface with the striker playing with more freedom and confidence under McLeish. His lighting pace and willingness to chase down and hassle defenders will unnerve the Wigan back line and give Villa an option over the top.

Franco Di Santo – With Rodallega missing the Argentine has stepped up his game to compensate for the Colombians loss. With three goals to his name already this campaign he’ll be looking increase that tally against Villa alongside Victor Moses up front.

Verdict: 2-1

Gabriel Agbonlahor is the player from either side who is currently ranked highest on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Agbonlahor is currently in 11th place overall Agbonlahor has three Barclays Premier League goals this season, scoring a goal on average every 176minutes 20second of action Although he dropped eight places to 22nd overall, Franco Di Santo is the Wigan Athletic player who is currently ranked highest on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index Di Santo’s three Barclays Premier League goals have come on average a little quicker than Agbonlahor’s, every 148minutes 40seconds

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Take up our exclusive offer with Goaldash below to be in with a chance – what have you got to lose?

Danny Wilson could be set for a loan move to Leeds United after falling down the pecking order at Liverpool, the Daily Record understands.

The 19-year-old has barely featured for the Reds since signing at the start of the 2010/11 season whilst Roy Hodgson was in the Anfield hotseat.

Sporadic appearances in Europa League ties and domestic cup games have been the only relief for Wilson, with current boss Kenny Dalglish now willing to let him leave on loan.

A return to former club Rangers was touted before the transfer deadlined whilst Blackpool have also been credited with an interest in the Scotland defender.

It’s now emerged that Leeds boss Simon Grayson has increased his interest in the centre half and could make a move now the loan window for Football League clubs has opened.

Grayson is desperate to bolster his side, especially in defence, after a poor start to the season which has see them win only two of their first six games.

Conceding goals has been the Whites’ main problem so far this season and Grayson is keen to bring Wilson in to shake up his backline.

It would certainly be a coup for the Elland Road boss, with the defender having won the SPL with Rangers and played in the Champions League as a 17-year-old before his move to Liverpool.

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England manager Fabio Capello looks set to pick Wayne Rooney in his squad for Euro 2012, as he dropped a hint regarding the player’s importance to the team.

The Manchester United forward has been handed a three match ban after being sent off against Montenegro in qualification, which will see him ineligible for all the group stage games of the tournament in Ukraine and Poland.

Due to the fact that he will miss a sizeable chunk of the competition, rumours have circulated that despite the attacker’s quality he would not be included in the squad.

However, Capello dropped a hint at Rooney’s involvement when talking about the senior players in the team.

“The young players are really good and ready to play with the seniors, and the experience of the seniors is really important,” he stated at a Club Wembley breakfast.

“During the games we need some leaders, people that know something. Jack Wilshere is incredible because he is so young. We also need the experience of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Scott Parker.

“You need this kind of player, plus Rooney, I hope,” he stated.

Capello also said that he is happy with the quality he has to choose from, and feels he can field a strong side next year.

“I am happy with my players. I have a lot of confidence in them.

“There are not many young players in the world who are better than the English ones. But you need to wait until the end of the season to understand if they are at the top and ready to play with the seniors.

“We had a gap between the oldest and the young. Now, with people like Wilshere, (Phil) Jones, (Danny) Welbeck, (Daniel) Sturridge – it’s really interesting.

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“It will be a really good team for the next Euros,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has put pen to paper on a new contract at the Etihad Stadium, keeping him at the club until 2015.

The England international and big-spending Premier League club have been locked in discussions over a new deal for a number of months, but Sky Sports can reveal that the extension has been agreed.

Rumours have circulated in the English press that Johnson, who joined the side from Middlesbrough for £7 million back in January 2010, was displeased with his lack of regular first team action and a move was potentially on the cards.

However the new deal will go far to quash the speculation, as Johnson now fights to be more of a frequent fixture in Roberto Mancini’s starting XI.

Mirror Football indicate that the club will double the 24-year-old’s wages, with his current salary of £45,000-a-week being boosted to £90,000-a-week.

Johnson will be in contention for City this weekend, as they host Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Pressure continues to mount on Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas, as his side threw away a 1-0 lead to get beaten 2-1 by Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena on Wednesday night.

Didier Drogba had given the Premier League club the advantage with a neat finish early in the second half, but Eren Derdiyok equalised soon after, and Manuel Friedrich gave the Bundesliga outfit all three points in injury time.

The result moves Leverkusen into top spot of Champions League Group E, whilst The Blues drop to second and are level on points with Valencia.

Unai Emery’s team destroyed Genk 7-0 in the other pool game, with Spain international Roberto Soldado grabbing a hat-trick.

With Chelsea to host Valencia at Stamford Bridge in the last game of the group, it is a do-or-die clash for the English team, but Villas Boas feels confident his team can still progress.

“We believe in what we do, we believe in the talent of these players, we believe in them and that talent that is going to take us through to qualification – of course,” he told Sky Sports.

“Any negative result is difficult, we were organised and compact, but we have conceded on the details and that has made the difference, we have to improve our focus and concentration levels.

“We thought we had the game in our hands at 1-0 as we were compact and solid and had good chance for 2-0 but we didn’t take the chance and eventually paid heavily in the last minute.

“Obviously with the run of defeats you improve your work, focus and determination because at the moment it is not sufficient.

“I think we defended well as a team in the 90-minutes – the first goal we lacked concentration and on the set-plays when you are not tuned to it, and even if you are, players can anticipate you and they made the most of the opportunity they got to take an unfair result in my opinion but that is the reality, a defeat where we should have got something – it is not happening for us,” he concluded.

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Chelsea have Wolves at home on Saturday, and simply must pick up three points to stop the bad run of form.

By Gareth McKnight

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Liverpool have been criticised for their unrelenting support for Luis Suarez by Kick It Out chairman Lord Ouseley.

The Uruguay international was found guilty of racial abuse against Patrice Evra in The Reds’ 1-1 draw with Manchester United back in October, and handed an eight-match ban.

Despite this, the Anfield club’s players wore t-shirts with Suarez’s face on it as a mark of support in a recent warm-up, and Kenny Dalglish has been adamant in his backing of the player.

This conduct is deemed as hypocritical by Ouseley, who feels the Merseysiders are guilty of double standards.

“Liverpool FC need to take a hard look at themselves and how they have responded to the complaint and the investigations into the allegations of abuse in the Patrice Evra/Luis Suarez case,” he stated to The Guardian.

“Throughout the entirety of the proceedings, over the past three months, all we have heard are denials and denigration of Evra. Since the publication of the 115-page report of the findings of the FA’s independent commission, Liverpool’s vitriol has increased.

”Suarez’s attempt at a belated apology is nothing short of lamentable. I cannot believe that a club of Liverpool’s stature, and with how it has previously led on matters of social injustice and inequality, can allow its integrity and credibility to be debased by such crass and ill-considered responses.

”Liverpool have been particularly hypocritical. You can’t on the one hand wear a Kick It Out T-shirt in a week of campaigning against racism when this is also happening on the pitch: it’s the height of hypocrisy.

”Liverpool players wore a T-shirt saying: ‘We support Luis Suarez’, seemingly whatever the outcome. This was a dreadful knee-jerk reaction because it stirs things up,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has admitted that he is proud to equal Thierry Henry’s goalscoring record for most goals in a calendar year.

The Netherlands international scored against Aston Villa on Wednesday night to make it 34 goals for the North London club in 2011, equalling the French attacker’s record.

Despite being honoured at achieving the tally, Van Persie feels that winning trophies for Arsene Wenger’s men is more important than individual accolades.

“It is a big honour to equal Thierry’s record because he is probably the best player Arsenal ever had. To achieve what he did in a year is really special. It makes me proud,” he told The Daily Mail.

“I think it has helped that I haven’t missed a single Premier League game and featured for 90 minutes in most of them.

“When you have a good run, and you feel fresh and fit, you try things, you take more risks here and there than, for example, if you are just coming back from injury. You always need a couple of games when you’re back from injury.

“As a striker I think it is really important to have a go. If you look at my performances, I take more risks now because I know with the team behind me I will always get more chances.

“It’s not that I only get one chance normally, I always get one, two, three, sometimes four chances in a game. That sort of tells me that I can take a risk here and there.

“It (the scoring records) is not my main target. The main target is to win games and to help my team out and to have a good run.

“After losing to Manchester City, it is always really important to bounce back after a defeat. Great teams do bounce back and that’s what we had to do at Villa on Wednesday.

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“Now we have Wolves on Tuesday, then afterwards QPR both at home, so hopefully we can have a good run again,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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