Friday, January 30, 2015

Dodds suffers injury blow

Port Vale have confirmed that forward Louis Dodds has sustained a fractured toe.

Louis Dodds: Sustained a fractured toe

Louis Dodds: Sustained a fractured toe

Dodds suffered the injury during the 1-0 home defeat to neighbours Crewe on Saturday.

An X-ray at the beginning of this week revealed the break but it is not yet clear how long the 28-year-old will be out of action.

Vale boss Rob Page told the club's official website: "It's disappointing news because Louis has been playing very well recently.

"We've been pleased with his form over the last couple of months but we are sure he will come back even stronger.

"In the meantime, we have a number of players champing at the bit to get into the starting line-up so we certainly won't be short of options."

Dodds, a former Leicester trainee, has started each of Vale's last seven fixtures, scoring once.

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Campion blow for Port Vale

Port Vale have been dealt an injury blow with the news that Achille Campion has suffered a suspected cracked rib.

Rob Page: Loses striker to injury

Rob Page: Loses striker to injury

Campion sustained the injury while in action for the reserve team at Tranmere on Tuesday, where the French striker scored both goals in a 2-1 win.

It is not yet known how long the 24-year-old will be out of first-team contention.

Vale coach Mark Grew told the Sentinel: "He took his two goals very well but he has gone for an x-ray on a rib injury.

"He didn't train this morning [Thursday] so we are going to have to wait for the outcome of that.

"He did really well but has taken this knock and found it hard to breathe. It happens in football but it is disappointing for him because he was full of confidence on Tuesday."

Campion has now scored 11 goals in seven games for the reserve side since he joined Vale in September, initially on a half-season loan from Swedish side Norrby IF.

He completed a permanent transfer to Vale Park this month, signing an 18-month contract.

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Lawn angry at TV snub

Mark Lawn said TV bosses should "hang their heads in shame" after choosing not to broadcast Bradford's next FA Cup tie live on television.

Mark Lawn: TV bosses should be ashamed

Mark Lawn: TV bosses should be ashamed

The West Yorkshire club won the nation's hearts when fighting back from two goals down to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend in one of the biggest upsets of all time.

But neither the BBC or BT Sport will be showing live coverage of their fifth-round tie against either Sunderland or Fulham at Valley Parade.

"Whoever made the decisions at the BBC and BT Sport should hang their heads in shame," Lawn said.

"They all promote the FA Cup's magic and romance, but where's the magic gone now?

"Is there something I'm missing? I don't understand how we can't be one of the five televised games after our efforts last Saturday.

"How can they justify it? It's a disgrace."

Bradford's game against Sunderland or Fulham is one of only three fifth-round ties that will not be screened live. Blackburn versus Stoke and Derby versus Reading are the other two to miss out.

The ties involving West Brom v West Ham, Crystal Palace v Liverpool or Bolton, Aston Villa v Leicester, Arsenal v Middlesbrough and Preston or Sheffield United v Cambridge or Manchester United will be screened live.

Lawn said the club felt further aggrieved after losing out on the £247,500 windfall it would have received through television revenue.

"That goes to the Premier League clubs because they really need the money don't they?" he added.

"Last Saturday got voted on Match of the Day as the biggest shock ever, so surely we deserve to be shown on television in the next round.

"It feels as if they've taken all the magic away from us. Where's the romance and magic going to be when they just want to show all the big clubs?

"We're thinking of getting T-shirts printed with '#no magic'. For all the neutrals, the magic is in seeing if Bradford can do it again."

The BBC said it had considered the fifth-round draw carefully before choosing the fixtures to show live and was hoping to present its Saturday lunchtime show Football Focus from Valley Parade instead.

A BBC spokesperson said: "TV match selections have to be decided before the outcome of replays and for that reason, we have selected what we believe to be the best fixtures, given all the potential scenarios.

"Providing Bradford City's game is played on Saturday afternoon, we will present Football Focus from Valley Parade to showcase the club's preparations and provide extended highlights on Match of the Day."

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Arthurworrey extends Yeovil stay

Yeovil have agreed a deal to extend the loan of Fulham defender Stephen Arthurworrey.

Stephen Arthurworrey: Set for Yeovil stay

Stephen Arthurworrey: Set for Yeovil stay

Arthurworrey has made 15 appearances since arriving at Huish Park and he has now agreed a deal to keep him in Somerset until the end of the current campaign.

The Glovers have also announced that Jed Steer will return to parent club Aston Villa after this weekend's clash.

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'No need to replace Eto'o'

Roberto Martinez is confident Everton already have enough cover in their squad to deal with the loss of Samuel Eto'o.

Roberto Martinez: Back from warm-weather training break in Qatar

Roberto Martinez: Back from warm-weather training break in Qatar

Eto'o's spell with Everton ended this week when he joined Sampdoria on a free transfer after just five months on Merseyside.

But the former Cameroon striker's exit will not necessarily mean a new arrival at Goodison Park this month, according to Martinez, who has Arouna Kone back after more than a year out.

"Kone is fully fit and ready to give a lot to the team, and I don't feel we need anyone to replace Samuel in that position," the Everton manager said.

"Obviously we have players who have been performing in that No 10 position, the likes of Ross Barkley and Steven Naismith, so I feel we are strong in that department."

Martinez has just five days to strengthen his squad, but his focus is on restoring confidence to a group of players who challenged for a Champions League place last season but have won just once since November.

"It's hard to tell (if we will do any business)," he said. "I think we're not looking at this window to try to find solutions. All the work we did in the summer was to have a strong enough squad to face all the competitions.

"I still feel the work is to try to get the players back in their confident mood. We haven't lost any of the talent we had last season, and the work is to try to recover that. I feel we've got a very strong squad looking ahead to the second half of the season,"

In the short term Martinez hopes to have midfielder James McCarthy available for the first time this year when Everton go to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Republic of Ireland international has been out since December 28 with a hamstring problem but worked with the squad on their warm-weather training break in Qatar.

Martinez said: "The break really helped Kevin Mirallas and James McCarthy - both have a chance of being involved on Saturday."

Mirallas was substituted with a hamstring niggle at half-time during Everton's goalless draw with West Brom earlier this month - moments after missing a penalty.

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Sanchez a doubt for Villa game

Arsenal could be without Alexis Sanchez for their Super Sunday game against Aston Villa this weekend.

Alexis Sanchez: Has featured in all but one of Arsenal's Premier League games

Alexis Sanchez: Has featured in all but one of Arsenal's Premier League games

The club's top scorer has a hamstring problem and will be put through a fitness test on Saturday before Arsene Wenger finalises his matchday squad.

Sanchez has featured in all but one of Arsenal's Premier League games this season, and before this month's win at Manchester City statistics revealed he had either scored or assisted more than half his side's goals.

If the Chile international is missing on Sunday it will be the first time since September Arsenal have played a full 90 minutes in the league without him.

This week's new arrival Gabriel has a chance of being involved on Sunday, according to Wenger, who does not expect to have any of his injured players back.

The manager told Arsenal's website Danny Welbeck - yet to play this year - is "really, really, really close" and will be back to face Tottenham next weekend, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta are still out.

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Sturridge expects Gerrard back

Daniel Sturridge is convinced Steven Gerrard will eventually return to Anfield as Liverpool manager.

Daniel Sturridge: Thinks Steven Gerrard will be back at Anfield

Daniel Sturridge: Thinks Steven Gerrard will be back at Anfield

Sturridge is due to return to action this weekend, ending a five-month injury lay-off, when the Reds return to Premier League action against West Ham.

Since Sturridge was injured, Gerrard has revealed this will be his last season - for now - at the club and he will be leaving for the MLS with the LA Galaxy at the end of the campaign.

But the striker is certain it is not the last Anfield will see of the 34-year-old and expects to be playing under him before his own playing days come to an end.

Devastated

"I'm devastated he's leaving," Sturridge said.

"I think he'll be at the club in some capacity very soon and I'm sure he'll manage the club one day.

"Words can't describe what he's done for Liverpool as well as his country.

"He's still a role model of mine. I look up to him, I think everyone in the squad does. He'll be sorely missed - he's somebody who's given me a lot of experience and helped me to improve as a person and a footballer."

Sturridge was originally injured on England duty, suffering a thigh problem, but he was due to return last month, only to sustain a fresh thigh injury just as he looked to be ready to return.

No holding back

But he feels ready to end his lay-off and admits he has learned a lot from the sidelines - albeit as a frustrated supporter.

"I've been champing at the bit," Sturridge added.

"I'm ready now - it's been a long time coming, but I am happy with how everything has gone and I am looking forward to it. I won't hold back from anything.

"I don't like watching too much but I had to. I watched every single match when I was in the States - I was getting up early doors in the morning, so sometimes it'd be 4am depending on where I was and what time the game was.

"I'd get up early and it was important for me to see how we played, the formations and the style of the new players.

"But it was hugely important (to go out there) and I am thankful to the guys over there who helped me out."

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