Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has declared himself fit ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash against former club Manchester City.
The injury-prone England international missed the start of the season after returning from hip surgery and has made just three appearances this campaign.
“I’m fit and ready to go and it’s going to be a great time for me,” Sturridge told the club website.
“It’s been great under the new manager. I’ve been back training for the past couple of days and I was training when he first arrived.”
Galatasaray part with Hamzaoglu
Galatasaray coach Hamza Hamzaoglu has parted ways with the Turkish champions less than a year after taking charge of the side following a mediocre start to the season, the club said.
“Coach Hamza Hamzaoglu’s contract has been terminated through a mutual agreement,” read a club statement.
Hamzaoglu led the club to a league and cup double last year but Galatasaray are currently five points behind league leaders Besiktas.
Hamzaoglu also made a statement, saying he was grateful for the chance of serving the club as manager after years as a player for the Istanbul club.
‘No.7 shirt should inspire Memphis’
David Beckham has urged Manchester United winger Memphis Depay to use the club’s famous ‘Number 7’ shirt as an inspiration to kickstart his floundering Red Devils career when he comes back into the team against Watford tomorrow.
Beckham denies there is extra pressure linked with the shirt and urged Memphis to embrace the number and look to the likes of Robson and Cantona for inspiration.
“I don’t see it as an intimidation, I see it as an honour,” Beckham said. “At the end of the day it is a special shirt to wear but I don’t think personally that it comes with any pressure. It always was an inspiration for me.
“It was never my shirt. It was George Best’s, Bryan Robson’s, Eric Cantona’s.”
Nasri ruled out for three months
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has ruled himself out of action for three months due to a hamstring injury.
Nasri strained his hamstring in City’s 5-1 over Bournemouth on October 17 and has not played for the club since, though manager Manuel Pellegrini was hopeful he would recover in time for tomorrow’s clash at home to Liverpool.
Nasri is also set to miss several other important league matches, including against Southampton on November 28 and Arsenal on December 21.
Wenger calls for drug-testing revamp
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called for blood tests to be introduced as a matter of routine in professional football, insisting his sport is not immune to the scourge of doping.
The Football Association has contacted the Frenchman after he suggested, in a recent interview with L’Equipe Sport and Style, that he had come up against opposition who may have used performance-enhancing drugs.
“To think we in football are just immune because we are football players is absolutely wrong,” Wenger said.
“What I want is deeper tests, better tests, because what we test is superficial. And as well that when people are caught that they are punished and that the clubs are punished as well.”
No Hasselbaink approach – Burton
Burton have dismissed reports of an approach from QPR for manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
QPR parted company with Chris Ramsey this month and Hasselbaink has been linked with the Loftus Road job after winning the League Two title with Burton last season and guiding them to fourth in the League One table this term.
Burton chairman Ben Robinson said: “We have not had an approach from QPR.
“The team and the manager have done fantastically well over the last 12 months and that means that there will be speculation when job vacancies arise.”
Stones not leaving Everton in January
Everton boss Roberto Martinez insists the likes of John Stones will not be sold in January.
The Merseyside outfit stood firm over the summer amid bids from Chelsea for England defender Stones, who had a transfer request rejected.
There has been talk of the English champions trying again in the January transfer window.
But when asked about whether Everton’s best players could be leaving in January, Martinez said: “Not at all, no. We’re not in a position where we have to make financial decisions (like that).
“The focus is clearly on trying to be strong together and having a real continuity.”