Football news

Hull City will unveil former Nigeria international Jay-Jay Okocha as their new signing today.

Okocha, 34, watched Hull's defeat at Blackpool on Monday. He has agreed a two-year deal with the division two club.

"I think he is the sort of player who will give us the creativity we need in midfield," said manager Phil Brown.

Okocha spent four years at Bolton until his release in July 2006. Since then, he has been playing in the Middle East with Qatar SC.

N'Zogbia pens new deal

Charles N'Zogbia has pledged his future to Newcastle after sealing a new five-year contract.

The 21-year-old Frenchman was linked with a move to Arsenal during the transfer window, but has vowed to stay at St James' Park.

"I am happy to sign my contract and I see my future with Newcastle because it is a great club," said N'Zogbia.

"At the end of last season I thought I might leave as I was unhappy but it is all different now with the new boss."

Robben slams Chelsea's style

Arjen Robben has said he ended his association with Chelsea in favour of Real Madrid to play more "attractive" football.

The Dutch winger left Stamford Bridge for the Spanish giants last month in a deal worth £25 million and says he's happy to have moved to a club where entertaining as well as winning is the goal.

Robben told The Sun: "I will enjoy it more over here. Maybe this is a style of play that suits me better.

"Real Madrid are a team and the coach said he wants to play attacking, attractive football - so that all sounds very good to me."

Torres eyes top scorer award

Liverpool forward Fernando Torres has set his sights on beating Didier Drogba to the Premier League golden boot.

Chelsea striker Drogba secured the award last season with 20 goals. However, Liverpool's £21.7 million summer signing Torres insists the Ivory Coast forward will face stiff competition this year.

"I am happy with my work at Liverpool," Torres, who scored three league goals, said. "But really I warn the fans they have only seen 60 per cent of the real Torres.

"It will not be easy, but in the first few weeks I have shown it will not be a parade for Drogba to repeat his success of last season."

Gilardino gets Milan backing

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has pleaded to club fans to show more patience with Alberto Gilardino who has looked short of confidence at the start of the season.

With Brazilian striker Pato awaiting to launch his Milan career in January, the Italy forward knows that he must come good soon after he was jeered by the San Siro crowd in the 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Monday.

"The fans were a little harsh towards him," coach Ancelotti said.

"He needs to stay calm as he played a good game. I'm sure that it won't be long before he starts scoring goals."

Lotito defends transfer efforts

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has refuted criticism of his club's transfer campaign and revealed that he snubbed Antonio Cassano.

Coach Delio Rossi has publicly stated that he had hoped for more new recruits after a frustrating month culminating in the botched move for Juan Pablo Carrizo.

"We signed nine new players and the squad is complete," an angry Lotito insisted. "We also could have brought Cassano back to Rome, but we weren't interested. The squad is calm and relaxed and this Lazio team can go far.

"The side should only be judged on results and I think that they will come."

Bentley relishing England chance

David Bentley has called on England fans to judge him on his performances and not on his controversial withdrawal from the Under-21 squad for the Euro Championships finals.

The 23-year-old drew heavy criticism for the decision, especially as it was made so late that England were unable to call a replacement.

"It's a great feeling to be called up and I'm looking forward to it," Bentley said.

"The Under-21 thing is all behind me and it's up to me now.

'Hopefully, I will just be judged on what I do on the football pitch and nothing else."

Player dies in car accident

South African international midfielder Gift Leremi was killed in a car accident late on Monday, his club officials and police said yesterday.

Leremi, 22, had just returned from Cameroon where he played for South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in an African Confederation Cup match at the weekend.

Leremi, who had scored twice since his move to Sundowns, won four caps for South Africa, the last two years ago at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the US.

Drogba to miss Gabon qualifier

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been left out of the Ivory Coast squad for their African Nations Cup qualifier at Gabon this weekend after picking up a knock on his knee in the English Premier League on Sunday.

Drogba, injured in the closing stages of Chelsea's 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa, has been replaced in the 18-man squad by Racing Lens striker Aruna Dindane for Saturday's Group One fixture.