Football news

Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch has credited the Premier League club's manager Harry Redknapp for his return to the England squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan at Wembley on Saturday.

Crouch was not named in the squad for England's opening two wins of the Group Six qualifying campaign but solid form has earned him a recall from manager Fabio Capello.

"I've played for Harry (Redknapp) before and I felt he got the best out of me," the lanky striker said.

Asked if the recall was down to his club manager the striker, who has scored 14 times in 28 appearances for his country, was in no doubt.

"Very much so. He builds up players' confidence," Crouch said.

Bellamy pins hopes on altitude tent

West Ham's Craig Bellamy, 29, told reporters he is sleeping in an altitude tent as he is trying to save his career after a series of injuries.

On Saturday, the striker is to make his first start for a year when Wales host Liechtenstein on Saturday.

"I have got my own altitude tent and I sleep in it every night because it speeds up recovery and improves overall fitness," Bellamy said.

"This is a critical stage of my career and if I cut corners it would have been tough for me to come back."

His tent simulates high altitude by maintaining a lower oxygen concentration. One of the benefits is to increase red blood cells and enzymes to speed recovery.

Moggi slams Juve transfer strategy

Luciano Moggi, the disgraced former sporting director at Juventus, criticised the club's strategy in the transfer market as the team is languishing in mid-table following draws with Catania and Sampdoria and a defeat against Palermo.

Moggi said: "Juve needed to keep hold of Adrian Mutu and not to sign Amauri, who wouldn't have been needed.

"They would have saved lots of money like that, which could have been invested in signing a good defender and especially a midfielder who can control the pace to prevent Mauro Camoranesi from having to play out of position.

"Had they done that they would have had a more competitive squad, but instead they are dealing with the results of a strange market."

'39th round' still in the offing

The controversial '39th round' proposition by the English Premier League could become a reality at some stage in the future, according to chief executive Richard Scudamore.

Plans to host an overseas round of matches in five cities across the world from 2011 were originally unveiled in February but scrapped after receiving a widespread hostile reception.

This week, however, Scudamore revealed the proposal was by no means dead in the water.

"It is still there, being discussed and considered with the clubs," he said.

"We believe there is a future for clubs playing matches abroad. Will it come back in the same form? It's unlikely but perhaps in a different form."

Pavlyuchenko out for three weeks

Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko will miss the next two World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Finland with an ankle injury that will keep him out of action for three weeks, his club Tottenham Hotspur said.

Scans revealed he suffered a partially torn ankle ligament which forced him off during a 1-0 home defeat by Hull City in the Premier League on Sunday that left Spurs bottom.

"Roman will now undergo further treatment on the ankle after specialists declared him unfit to play for the next three weeks," Tottenham said.

Pavlyuchenko joined Spurs from Spartak Moscow for 17 million euros on transfer deadline day.

Donadoni linked with Torino job

Former Italy national team coach Roberto Donadoni could be offered to take over at struggling Serie A side Torino and replace Gianni De Biasi on the bench.

Torino just managed to avoid the drop last season after De Biasi took over from Walter Novellino in April and pulled the team back from the brink. But this term Torino are misfiring badly and hovering just above the drop zone.

Reports said Donadoni, who has been unemployed since Euro 2008, is in line to take over from De Biasi if things don't improve soon. Donadoni had been in the frame for the West Ham job but Gianfranco Zola eventually took the role.

Benitez waits on new deal

With just over 18 months to run on his current contract, Rafael Benitez has dismissed rumours linking him with a move to Juventus as he waits on a new deal at Anfield.

With Claudio Ranieri failing to guide the Turin giants back to stardom, Juventus have been credited with an interest in Benitez.

Benitez said: "I'm not really worried about the situation at the moment. I am trying to be pragmatic about it and am just concentrating on the things I can improve.

"It doesn't make it more difficult for me to plan for the future."

Benitez is now in his fifth season at Anfield.