Manchester City defender Micah Richards looks like making a timely return from injury to give the team a welcome boost at the back. The 24-year-old has not played this season after injuring his ankle on Great Britain duty at the Olympics.
So far City have conceded 14 goals in seven matches and have yet to keep a clean sheet. But Richards thinks he is almost ready to return.
“It’s probably going to take about two more weeks,” he said.
“I’m happy with the progress made so far because it was quite a bad one, but I can’t wait to get back in among the squad.”
Eto’o comeback
Samuel Eto’o has been persuaded to resume playing for Cameroon following a meeting with Prime Minister Philemon Yang.
Eto’o was banned by the Cameroon Football Federation last November after leading a players’ strike over late payment of bonuses and appearance fees.
Having served the suspension, the 31-year-old then refused to play in last month’s 2-0 Africa Cup qualifier first-leg defeat by Cape Verde in protest against the national team set-up
But following discussions, he has decided to make a comeback.
“On the request of the highest authority of the Republic, I make myself available to the Indomi-table Lions,” Eto’o said.
Ferguson doubts Ferdinand recall
Rio Ferdinand is unlikely to be recalled by England despite defender John Terry’s international retirement, Man. United manager Alex Ferguson said.
Ferdinand was left out of the Euro 2012 squad by coach Roy Hodgson, who selected Terry despite allegations that he had racially abused Rio’s brother Anton.
Speculation of a Ferdinand recall was knocked back by Ferguson yesterday.
“I wouldn’t think he’ll get called up. I think Roy made his decision for the Euros and I can’t see him changing that,” Ferguson said.
“It would be difficult for Roy to go to Ferdinand now and welcome him back.”
World Cup 2018 to be held in 11 cities
Eleven Russian cities will host the 2018 World Cup, organising committee head Vitaly Mutko said following FIFA’s executive meeting in Zurich, yesterday.
“FIFA has made a decision to use 12 stadiums in 11 cities,” Russian Sports Minister Mutko said without naming the two cities who did not make the list.
Thirteen Russian cities had been competing for the right to stage the matches. Reports said that Saransk and Yaroslavl had been dropped.
Mutko said earlier this month that Saransk, Volgograd, Yaro-slavl, Kaliningrad and Rostov were the most under threat.
Balotelli back with pregnant girlfriend
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is back with his pregnant girlfriend Raffaella Fico, looking to put their relationship back in order after a bitter break-up.
Things got nasty between the two when Fico revealed her pregnancy to the media rather than talking to Balotelli who had demanded a DNA test.
“I have decided to try again with Raffaella,” Balotelli said.
“The DNA test has not been performed and has nothing to do with my decision. In any case, I would’ve asked for the test in that situation with anyone, not just Raffaella.”
This week, Fico, six months pregnant, modelled in a bikini for a fashion show.
Terry not racist, says Mourinho
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho leapt to the defence of John Terry yesterday, insisting the controversial defender is not a racist.
“He is not a racist,” said Mourinho, who coached Terry at Chelsea from 2004-2007.
“That’s 100 per cent. We (Chelsea) had a squad where we had 12 African players in the squad. It was a fantastic squad and he had always a great relation with every one of them.
“Probably, he had a racist comment against an opponent and, sometimes in football, we look to our opponents in the wrong way.
“But please, don’t say that he is a racist because I know what I am saying.”
Gunners’ profit
Arsenal’s parent holding company this week posted another healthy pre-tax profit, returning £36.6 million for the year ending May 31, 2012 which was up from the equivalent 2011 figures of £14.8m.
The Gunners, though, could not escape an inevitable increase in wages from £124m to £143m, which represented 60.9 per cent of the club’s football revenues.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis feels Arsenal are in good stead to fulfil UEFA’s Financial Fair Play.
“We do have money to spend as and when the manager feels it will push the squad forward, but it is nothing like £150m (cash balance),” he said.
“We use those funds throughout the year to pay our expenses, including player wages.”