Hugo Lloris is waiting to see where he figures in Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas’s plans after saying it is “never nice” to hear he may not be first choice.

The France goalkeeper joined Spurs on deadline day but faces a fight to dislodge Brad Friedel from the team after Villas-Boas declared that the place belonged to the American.

Questioned about what Villas-Boas said, Lloris responded: “Obviously it’s never nice, but we’ll see when we return to work on Wednesday (tomorrow).

“When I join up with the national team I concentrate uniquely on that and we’ll see about my personal situation as soon as I go back.”

Sneijder not mulling move

Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder has insisted he wants to remain at the club at least until his contract expires in 2015.

The Dutchman’s future has regularly been the subject of speculation over the past couple of years and he was again linked with a move away from Inter during the summer.

Fenerbahce and Real Madrid were among the clubs credited with an interest, but Sneijder says he remains committed to Inter.

“I want to stay at Inter. I have never, never thought about leaving Inter. I like the team, the city, the club, and I also like the coach,” he said.

Pearce calm over FA future

England U-21 boss Stuart Pearce insists there is “no real issue” regarding his future despite speculation over his role with the FA.

The former England left-back’s contract expires next summer and he has not been asked to reprise his role with the senior squad under current manager Roy Hodgson.

Pearce, though, has no concerns about his position.

He said: “I don’t think there is any real issue in respect to my future. I’ve been with the FA for five years and every time my contract is up for renewal, I renew it when it runs out, basically.

“That’s happened on the last two occasions and I don’t see that changing in any way.”

Napoli turf growing

The efforts of the groundstaff at Napoli’s San Paolo stadium are leaving good results as the pitch is recovering from its poor early-season state.

At the last league match at home, Napoli played Fiorentina on a surface that was more sand than grass. The situation was blamed on a number of reasons, from the hot weather to poor maintenance and even a fungus that spread throughout the pitch.

But, according to latest developments, the San Paolo playing surface is well on the road to recovery and in some patches the grass has grown 8cm, suggesting it will be ready for next weekend’s home game with Parma.

Clubman Zanetti for Inter role

Corriere dello Sport reported yesterday that Inter captain Javier Zanetti will be offered a role in the club’s boardroom when he decides to hang up his boots and retire.

Zanetti, 39, joined Inter in 1995 and since then went on to play 800 matches for the Nerazzurri becoming one of the most popular players ever at the San Siro.

The report said this could be the Argentine’s last season as a professional but his career at Inter will not be over.

In fact, club supremo chief Massimo Moratti is likely to offer Zanetti an influential position within the club’s hierarchy, possibily becoming a vice-president.

Benitez expected Liverpool call

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said he was surprised not to have been approached about a return to Anfield after the dismissal of Kenny Dalglish in May.

Benitez left Liverpool during the summer of 2010 after a poor season that saw his team finish seventh.

But having previously guided the Reds to FA Cup and Champions League success, he believes the Anfield owners could have looked his way before Brendan Rodgers was handed the job.

“It was strange not to be approached. We used to play so many important games that it seemed it was normal and it wasn’t,” Benitez said.

QPR training complex design

QPR have appointed the architects behind Wembley and the London 2012 Olympic Stadium to design “an unparalleled centre of excellence” at their new training base in Ealing, west London.

The club, who currently train at the Imperial Sports Ground in Harlington, expect to move into the new Warren Farm complex ahead of the 2014-15 season.

Populous, who also designed Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, are putting the finishing touches to their plans for the training centre.

They also designed the New York Yankees stadium and the Sydney Olympic Stadium in 2000.