John Ruddy is back to full fitness and hoping to make the England squad for the friendly against Italy on August 15. The Norwich keeper was a surprise inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2012, but was then forced to pull out after breaking his finger.
The 25-year-old is now hoping to get the call from Hodgson for the friendly in Switzerland.
He said: “It’s always at the back of your mind that you might get an England chance again. It was a blow to miss out and it was a strange kind of injury. I went to gather a ball and it dipped and caught the end of my finger.
“But I’m fit and I would love to be in the squad again and, hopefully, that will happen.”
Xavi acknowledges Paris SG threat
Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez admitted that big-spending Paris Saint-Germain will be a major contender in this season’s Champions League.
“PSG are a very good side, they have signed some top level players like Silva and Ibrahimovic to add to the good players that were already there,” said Xavi, who has only just started pre-season training after helping Spain to glory at Euro 2012.
“They have set themselves the objective of winning the Champions League in the short to medium term and they have the financial means.”
Stoichkov to take over at CSKA
Bulgarian football icon Hristo Stoichkov is set to take over as president of troubled club CSKA Sofia, who once catapulted him to Barcelona and world fame, media reports said.
Emil Dimitrov, an MP who has been at the heart of talks on a change of ownership at CSKA, told reporters that Stoichkov will “take over the management of the club when the whole process of ownership changes is over.”
However, there was no word on whether the former star would leave rival Bulgarian league side Litex Lovech, where he took over coaching duties in January.
Neymar must deal with the boos
Brazil boss Mano Menezes has warned rising star Neymar he will have to deal with the boo-boys as he attempts to make his way in the game.
The 20-year-old found himself the target of cat-calls at St James’ Park on Saturday when Honduras’ Crisanto was sent off for a tackle on him. A section of the 42,166 crowd made their feelings known in an eventful 3-2 quarter-final victory for Brazil.
Menezes said: “The booing against Neymar was following the sending-off because he was involved in that incident.
“Neymar needs to learn how to deal with situations like this.”
Abidal sets his sights on return
Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is hopeful of a return to action before the end of the year. The 61-cap France international has been out of action since undergoing a liver transplant in April, having undergone treatment on a tumour last year.
He recovered from the original treatment before the end of the 2010-11 season and lifted the Champions League after Barca’s victory over Manchester United, and was cleared to do so again by his doctors.
He said: “I have started working in the gym and I feel fine. I will keep progressing and see if I can play before December.”
Barca have signed Jordi Alba to operate in Abidal’s usual left-back position.
Sam: no sympathy for Blackburn
Sam Allardyce shed no tears when he saw his former club Blackburn relegated last season.
The West Ham manager was surprisingly sacked by Rovers owners Venky’s in December 2010. While the relegation of Bolton, another of his former clubs, saddened Allardyce he was unconcerned by the demise of their north-west rivals.
“I have to say there wasn’t much feeling when Blackburn were relegated because of the way they treated me,” he said.
“Bolton is a different story. Everyone knows how much the club means to me and always will, so I was saddened by their relegation.”
Friendly isn’t over for Newcastle
Newcastle have confirmed they are pursuing alleged racist chants against their players in the goalless draw at Den Haag on Saturday.
Alan Pardew’s men continued their pre-season preparations at the Kyocera Stadium where Shola Ameobi had a goal disallowed for offside. But the occasion was reportedly marred by racist chanting from some sections of the home crowd.
A Newcastle statement said: “In relation to alleged racist chants reported during Newcastle United’s friendly against Den Haag, the club will be raising the matter with officials at Den Haag and the issue will be dealt with privately.”