Man City Plan £6million Raid For Tiger Turner?

Manchester City are planning a £6million raid on Premier League debutantes Hull City when the transfer window reopens in January, with defender Michael Turner the target for City, according to The Mirror.

While the Tigers have been the surprise package of the Premiership this season. Turner has been putting in solid performances for the Yorkshire club this campaign and has been an ever-present for Hull, who are 6th in the league.

Turner’s form has alerted City boss Mark Hughes, who is expected reinforce a leaky defence at the Eastlands Stadium in January, with a £6million offer to lure Turner away from the KC Stadium being mooted.

25-year-old Turner, who joined Hull from Brentford in 2006 for just £350,000 has been a sensation under Tigers boss Phil Brown and has even been tipped for a call-up to Fabio Capello’s England squad.

However, Turner signed a new three-year deal at the KC Stadium in April and any move by City to prise Turner away is likely to be resisted fiercely by Brown, despite the huge profit that could be made on the former, Charlton Athletic defender.

Sweet & Sour Injury News For Liverpool Boss Benitez

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed that he expects Republic of Ireland International Robbie Keane to be fit to face Fulham at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday, but captain Steven Gerrard is a major doubt for the visit of the Cottagers.

Keane, who injured his shoulder in the win against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend has withdrawn from the Ireland squad to face Poland this week, but Benitez has insisted that the withdrawal from the Irish squad was merely a precaution.

“Robbie Keane's injury is not serious,” Benitez told the club's official website.

“He had a problem but [withdrawing from the international duty] was just a case of prevention. I think he will be okay.”

However, the Reds boss will be without his skipper Gerrard after a groin strain forced the midfielder to pull out of Fabio Capello’s squad to face Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

Benitez believes the Champions League clash with Marseille is a more realistic target for Gerrard, who will be out for 7-10 days after having a scan.

“Steven had a scan and he will be out for seven to ten days, depending on how he progresses,” added Benitez.

“He could be back for the Marseille game but each player is different. We have to start working with him and see how he does.”

Villa Boss O'Neill: Arsenal's Walcott An Inspiration For Any Young Player

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill believes that his trio of youngsters, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Curtis Davies should take inspiration from Arsenal starlet Theo Walcott. After being called up by England manager Fabio Capello for the International friendly with Germany on Wednesday.

O’Neill has said that his young Villans can learn from the way 19-year-old Walcott has gone from being a fringe player for the Gunners and England to a regular starter for both club and country.

Former Celtic manager O’Neill also hailed the performance of Walcott for his hat-trick against Croatia in England’s 4-1 win in Zagreb in their World Cup qualifier and insists any up and coming player should take inspiration from the former Southampton player.

O'Neill said: “At international level, the team is going really well. You have some outstanding players and an outstanding manager who is guiding the team through to the World Cup.

“They have had a fantastic start to their group and are going along nicely so breaking into that side is difficult - and why shouldn't it be if that is the level you want to achieve?

“But I think any up and coming player should take inspiration from Walcott.

“It was such an important game against Croatia and, for him to come up trumps in the manner he did do, speaks volumes for the kid. He did remarkably well.

“He has put aside that whole trauma of the 2006 World Cup before when he was taken to Germany as a youngster, was hyped up and then didn't play.

“He has done very well, come back from that, and other players can draw inspiration from that."

With Capello expected to give some of the fringe players in the England squad an opportunity to impress against the Germans, O’Neill has no doubt’s that Young and Agbonlahor can play at International level, but has warned his young stars that every opportunity is priceless if they want to be on the plane to South Africa for the World Cup Finals in 2010.
He added: “I have have no reservations about Gabby and Ashley going into the squad now. They are both capable of playing well for their country.

“I've often said to the players the time you really want to be right is when the plane takes off from Heathrow or Gatwick to the World Cup finals in South Africa. You want to be on it.

“So any opportunity they get, they should try and utilise it. Every moment on the field of play is priceless.

“In the scheme of things they are going along nicely but it is still big to get your place in that side, and keep it, which is great credit to Gareth Barry.

“What I wouldn't want is for complete and final judgements made on a player in one particular game or in one half. That is where the pressure might build up, that you feel you might have to really impress.”

West Ham Boss Zola Backs Green For England Recall

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West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has claimed that an England recall is not far away for goalkeeper Robert Green if he continues to put in performances like the one against Portsmouth at Upton Park on Saturday in the Premier League.

28-year-old Green was the difference between the Hammers losing to Pompey or coming away with a point as the former Norwich City pulled of a series of fine saves to keep West Ham in the match and ensure that Zola’s side did not endure their sixth defeat in seven games.

Former Chelsea legend Zola claims Green played like an International keeper and now wants the Hammers stopper to maintain that high level and force himself in to England manager Fabio Capello’s plans.

“Robert was outstanding. He was aware and made some fantastic saves, I'm really pleased for him. He played like a national team goalkeeper, but it's not down to me to judge. Capello knows what to do better than me,” said Zola.

“To be in the national team you have to perform at high levels all the time, week in week out. I wish that Robert will do the same now here.

“I am expecting him to perform like this for many other games. We need Robert playing the way he did against Portsmouth.”

Green, who was pleased to have kept a clean sheet in the match with Pompey is confident that West Ham have enough quality to avoid relegation, with the Hammers stopper upbeat about winning another England cap. Despite being overlooked in favour of Joe Hart and Scott Carson for the clash with Germany on Wednesday.

Green said: “We have not had the best of runs but I am sure we can go forward - I am confident we will avoid it [relegation].

“I've been sick of people reminding us that we've not kept a clean sheet for goodness knows how long. It's good to get that monkey off our backs.

“I was in the last squad for Kazakhstan. If it comes along it comes along. It is motivation enough to do well for West Ham.”

Spurs Striker Bent Out To Prove Himself Against Germany

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent is hoping England manager Fabio Capello will give him a chance to continue his impressive goal-scoring for Spurs in England’s International friendly against Germany on Wednesday.

After a slow start to his career at White Hart Lane, 24-year-old Bent has been in fine form for the North London club this term, with 7 goals in the Premier League and 11 in all competitions so far this season, which has earned the former Charlton Athletic player a recall into the England fold a year after his last call-up.

Now that Bent has forced himself back into the England squad and Capello’s thoughts the striker is determined to take his chance for England against Germany if given the opportunity in what he calls a ‘special’ game.

“England against Germany are always good games to play in so, for me, I feel I have something to prove,” Bent said.

“If I get the chance to prove myself then I'm up for the challenge.

“To be involved in a game like this is special."

Bent also believes that being deployed as a lone-striker for Tottenham by both previous manager Juande Ramos and new boss Harry Redknapp this season has helped him earn his recall to the England squad.

“I'm used to playing up front one my own so that's helped,” he added.

“It's made me a stronger person and I'm definitely a better player than the last time I was in the squad.

“You never take anything for granted, so as long as I can kept on scoring consistently for Tottenham then I hoped Fabio would see it and I would get a recall. Thankfully that's happened.”

Bent's last appearance in an England shirt came under the ill fated reign of previous manager Steve McClaren, with Bent claiming that things are different and more professional under the Capello regime.

“It's different to what it used to be,” Bent continued.

“It's always an honour to be here and play for your country. The training is perhaps more intense and it's a bit more professional, but it's been brilliant since I've been here.”

Spurs Striker Bent: England Call-Up Would Be A Bonus

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has played down a recall to Fabio Capello’s England team, with the forward insisting that if he continues to play well for Spurs then the chance to add to his three England caps will follow.

24-year-old Bent has been in fine goal-scoring form for Tottenham this season, with the former Charlton Athletic forward already finding the net 11 times so far this campaign in all competitions.

Bent’s haul of 11 goals includes his first hat-trick for Tottenham in the UEFA Cup against Dinamo Zagreb last Thursday, which the £16.5million signing from the Addicks followed up with a brace against Manchester City at the Eastlands Stadium on Sunday in the Premier League.

However, after a tricky start to his career at the North London club, Bent is keeping his feet firmly on the ground throughout this rich vein of form, with the striker, who finally seems to have rediscovered the touch that prompted Spurs to pay so much to bring him to White Hart Lane aware that you cannot please everyone all the time.

“I am doing as well as I can do and your not always going to be able to please everyone,” Bent told Sky Sports News.

“There are always going to be people who have their doubts and critics, as long as I know I can do what I can do and giving 110 per cent every game then that is all anyone can ask of me.

“I always said in my career that if I get an England call-up, it would be a bonus to me - I am not just going to set my sights on just England, because it doesn't work like that - the only way I will play for England is playing well for Tottenham, as long as I keep playing well for Tottenham then England will come.”

Arsenal's Wilshere Set For England Fast-Track?

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshire’s performances in the Carling Cup this season look like propelling the young Gunner into the England Under-21 squad that travels to Sweden next year for the European Championships.

16-year-old, Wilshere had been watched by an England scout in last months 6-0 drubbing of Sheffield United in the Carling Cup. England manager Fabio Capello along with his assistant Franco Baldini and Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce were all in attendance at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday to see the young starlet put in a man of the match performance against Wigan Athletic in the North London clubs 3-0 win, which put them through to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup.

The attendance of all the main players in the England management set-up at the Emirates has heightened speculation that Wilshere, who has been hailed as the “New Gazza’ in some quarters is to be fast-tracked into the full International set-up and taken to the EURO’s with the Under-21’s next summer.

Wilshere has already been capped by England at Under-16 and Under-17, with the youngster only recently returning from a training camp in Tenerife for the Under-17 squad before his five star performance humbled the Latics on Tuesday.

Wilshere will not be able to sign his first professional contract until he turns 17 next January, but looks set for a glittering career in the Premier League and with England. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger compared Wilshere to Spanish International Cesc Fabregas after the win against Wigan, with the Frenchman nurturing Fabregas from a 16-year-old arriving from Barcelona five years ago into one of the best and most sought after midfielder’s in Europe that he is today.

Should Wilshere’s progression take a similar path to the one of Fabregas under the guidance of Wenger, then a regular starting place for both club and country is surely not to far off the horizon for the latest young talent to emerge from the Emirates conveyer belt.