Spurs wait on injured duo

Sandro and Gallas to have scans on calf injuries picked up in win over West Brom

Tottenham midfielder Sandro and defender William Gallas will both have scans on calf injuries on Wednesday following the 1-0 victory over West Brom on Tuesday.

The news is a worry for boss Harry Redknapp who is already dealing with injuries to midfielders Scott Parker and Aaron Lennon.

"Sandro tore a calf - that will be a long one," said Redknapp.

"Gallas's looks like a calf too. They'll have scans on Wednesday."

Spurs overcame the loss of the players on Tuesday night to earn a win which put them just three points behind second placed Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League table.

Redknapp hailed the performance of England international Jermain Defoe, who scored the winner.

"Jermain's a goalscorer and always likely to pop up and nick a goal like that," he said.

"He's a good player. I've signed him nearly everywhere I've been. I signed him as a 14-year-old kid."

Mancini hails impact of Yaya

Man City boss admits he will not be able to replace star during Africa Cup 

of Nations

Roberto Mancini admits Manchester City will miss Yaya Toure when the midfielder leaves to play in the Africa Cup of Nations - but remains upbeat about his side's Barclays Premier League title challenge.

Yaya, along with brother Kolo, will leave to represent Ivory Coast in the African tournament after the Blues' FA Cup tie against local rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

The younger Toure played a vital role in City's impressive 3-0 win over Liverpool on Tuesday, scoring one goal and making another and Mancini admitted he will be a big loss.

"I have tried to find another Yaya in my squad, but there isn’t another Yaya," he said.

"He wil play against United on Sunday and then he will join the Ivory Coast.

"January is a big month for us and I think if we can come out on the top of the Premier League, I think we will have a very good chance to win (the title).

"But without Yaya and Kolo for several weeks, it will be hard."

Mancini said he was delighted with Tuesday's win, especially as it came just two days after the shock defeat to Sunderland on New Year's Day.

"I was very happy with the way we played against Liverpool. We deserved to win, but we also deserved to win against Sunderland, where we played very well, too – sometimes football is crazy!"

Barclays Premier League Wednesday round-up

Newcastle dent Manchester United's title hopes and Bolton win at Everton

Newcastle 3-0 Manchester United

Two fine strikes from Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye helped earn Newcastle victory at home to Manchester United.

Ba put the Magpies in front when Shola Ameobi flicked on a long ball and he beat Manchester United keeper Anders Lindegaard with an instinctive volley, while Cabaye doubled Newcastle's lead in the second half when he drilled an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner.

The visitors' best chance saw Wayne Rooney denied by a clearance off the line by Danny Simpson, while an own goal from Phil Jones completed a miserable evening for the champions.

Everton 1-2 Bolton

Everton keeper Tim Howard scored a freak goal but finished on the losing side as David Ngog and Gary Cahill earned Bolton a win that sees them move off the foot of the table.

Howard became only the fourth goalkeeper to score a goal in the Barclays Premier League when his long clearance deceived Bolton's Adam Bogdan.

But Ngog got the visitors level minutes later and then Cahill drove into the bottom corner to earn Bolton three vital points in their battle against the drop.

Barcelona's Pep Guardiola: Lionel Messi just keeps getting better every year

Messi faces competition from team-mate

The Catalan giants' coach is full of praise for the Argentine forward, and has acknowledged that the reigning Fifa Ballon d'Or winner has improved on his collective game

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola believes Lionel Messi is not at the peak of his career yet, as he feels he is still getting better every year.

The 24-year-old is the favourite to win the 2011 Fifa Ballon d'Or and would be the first player since Michel Platini to lift the trophy three times in a row.

"Every year he is getting better. You always think he has reached the top, but then gets better again, because he plays more and gains experience," Guardiola stated in a press conference.

"He now understands the collective game better. Just this fact makes him perform even better for Barcelona."e Xavi and Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Fifa Ballon d'Or. The winner will be announced at a gala at the Kongresshaus in Zurich on 9 January 2012.

 Lionel Messi recovered from a flu quicker than Barcelona expected and netted a brace as a substitute in a 4-0 win over Osasuna in the first leg of their Copa del Rey series on Wednesday.With Messi starting on the bench and David Villa out with a broken leg, Cesc Fabregas launched the rout by scoring off passes from Xavi Hernandez in the 14th and 19th minutes to take his goal tally to 13 goals in all competitions this season.Messi, who was a last-minute inclusion in the squad, went on after halftime.Showing no signs of illness, Messi headed in Fabregas' cross in the 72nd and capped the win in stoppage time."They first said Messi had a fever and was going home, (then) he comes out and scores two goals. What can we do?" said Osasuna coach Jose Mendilibar, whose team entered the night undefeated in its last seven matches. "It would be a miracle to make it to the next round now. We are going to forget about the Copa and focus on the league."Even though earlier in the day Barcelona had said Messi would miss the match because of the flu, he was included after "responding well to treatment," according to the club.Barcelona's latest win added to its more than impressive numbers on the season.Pep Guardiola's team has outscored opponents 37-1 in eight straight victories since losing 1-0 at Getafe and hasn't conceded a goal in 12 straight home games while scoring 53 times."A 4-0 win is an excellent result," Guardiola said. "But the knockout series is not over. We have to go to Pamplona and play for 90 more minutes."Pedro Rodriguez and young winger Isaac Cuenca accompanied Fabregas in attack, and Guardiola opted to deploy a three-man defensive line that freed Dani Alves to play on the right flank.The speedy Brazil defender had the hosts' first shot six minutes in and provided a constant threat throughout.Osasuna came out pressing far up the pitch despite recent memories of the 8-0 rout it suffered in its first visit to Camp Nou in league play earlier this season.But Barcelona's possession-based passing game soon pushed the visitors into their own area and crushed any thoughts of a surprise.The European champions broke through when Xavi completed a great team buildup by finding the unmarked Fabregas on the left side of the area to slot by Osasuna goalkeeper Asier Riesgo.The two Spanish internationals combined again shortly after as Fabregas took a pass from Xavi inside the edge of the area, turned to lose a defender, and beat the oncoming Riesgo with an exquisite chip shot to double the lead.Messi went on for Pedro to the cheers of the home fans in the 59th and saw his chip try bounce wide after Alves played him through the defense. But Riesgo could only look on when Messi rose up to redirect Fabregas' pass into the back of the net minutes later.The Argentina forward finished off the rout late when he took Xavi's pass and fired in a left-footer for his 31st goal of the season in all competitions."I think we played well in our passing game with and without Leo," said Guardiola. "But the final 15 yards before the net, that is another game, and in the last 15 yards there is nobody like Leo."Barcelona will meet Real Madrid in a rematch of last year's final in the quarterfinals if both teams win their last 16 ties.Earlier, Imanol Agirretxe scored one goal and set up another to lead Real Sociedad to a 2-0 win over Mallorca.On Tuesday, defending champion Madrid staged a second-half comeback to edge Malaga 3-2, while three other top-flight teams failed to beat lower-division opponents. Third-division Mirandes beat Racing Santander 2-0, second-division Alcorcon downed Levante 2-1, and third-tier Albacete drew 0-0 with Athletic Bilbao.Valencia hosts Sevilla while Espanyol visits Cordoba on Thursday.The second legs of the round of 16 will be played next week

Whatmore set to join as head coach of Pakistan

LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) committee formed to select head coach and other coaches will meet Wednesday (today) to finalise the coaches list and will present it to PCB chief Zaka Ashraf for his approval, it is reliably learnt.

The meeting will be chaired by its chairman Intikhab Alam while Zaheer Abbas, Col (R) Naushad Ali and Rameez Raja will also be present in the meeting to finalise the candidates list. It is also learnt that committee had finalised the names of candidates unanimously and picked Dav Whatmore as the head coach to replace Waqar Younis who resigned citing ailing health. Julian Fountain has been selected as fielding coach while Aaqib Javed has been selected as bowling coach and Sabih Azhar batting coach, the source added.

Sabih is presently named Under-19 team coach that will leave for South Africa to participate in the tri-series involving South Africa, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, the source said. Whatmore is the number one choice and would reach Lahore on January 14 to formally sign agreement with the board, the source added.

“Whatmore has had most of his demands accepted by the board including the one that he will have say in selection matters and on his pay scale,” the source stated. It also said that Whatmore had assured the PCB he would remain in Pakistan and work at the National Cricket Academy when he is free of commitments with the national team.  “Some senior players were not pleased with the board’s decision to appoint Whatmore as head coach as are reportedly not happy because of Whatmore’s reputation as a hard task master and having attitude problems,” the source added.

It appears that the PCB is not paying heed to the complaints of the few senior players who don’t want Whatmore as their new head coach. The source said that the PCB had obtained due clearance from the concerned quarters including the interior ministry before inviting Whatmore.

“Until now all negotiations on behalf of the board with Whatmore were carried out by former Test captain Rameez, who is assisting the committee formed by the board to scrutinise, identify, shortlist and recommend the names of potential coaches,” the source said.

The source informed that Rameez had held all negotiations with Whatmore and had recommended him finally to the board along with the committee.

The PCB is following the footsteps of the other cricket boards who have foreign coaches except Cricket South Africa that has appointed countryman Gary Kirsten as head coach. Australia have Micky Arthur of South Africa, India have Duncan Fletcher of England, England have Andy Flower of Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka have Stuart Law of Australia and Bangladesh have Geoff Marsh of Australia.

Meanwhile, Dav Whatmore has been issued a visit visa by the Pakistan embassy in Canberra, clearing the way for his scheduled visit to Lahore this month to finalise his contractual terms with the PCB.

A PCB source confirmed that the board through proper channels has managed to get a visa issued for Whatmore, who is presently in Canberra. “He will come to Lahore around January 14 or 15th,” the source said.

The source also confirmed that Whatmore is the sole candidate for the position of head coach of the national team and will join the Pakistan team for the Asia Cup to be held from March 1-12 in Bangladesh.

Mohsin Khan relaxed over Pakistan coaching future

ISLAMABAD: Interim team coach Mohsin Khan said on Wednesday he will have no problem with the Pakistan Cricket Board if he does not get the role full time. 

Khan has led Pakistan to series wins over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh since replacing Waqar Younis in October 2011 and is now preparing the team to face top-ranked Test side England. 

The 56-year-old has applied for the permanent position, but local media reports suggest Australian coach Dav Whatmore is the favorite to take over. 

Whatmore resigned as coach of Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders last week and is expected to arrive in Pakistan later this month for discussions with PCB officials. 

"I have no ego problems, whatever decision the PCB makes," Khan told a news conference. 

A three-member committee appointed by the PCB finalized its recommendations on Wednesday, but the new coach is not expected to be named until after the series against England, beginning January 17. 

Head of the committee Intikhab Alam said he received around 30 applications for the posts of Pakistan head coach, batting coach, bowling coach and fielding coach. 

"I can only tell you that whoever is appointed as head coach will also be the batting coach," Alam told reporters, without revealing the names of the shortlisted candidates. 

The committee will send its recommendations to the PCB chairman in a couple of days after which Alam said candidates will be called for interviews. 

"We have also recommended that the Pakistan team should have a set of coaches for a two-year term," Alam said. 

Khan was chief selector when Waqar resigned. 

"I am ready to help Pakistan cricket in whichever capacity the PCB wants it," Khan said. "My services are always available to the Pakistan Cricket Board because whatever I am today it is because of Pakistan." 

After victories in test, ODI and Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Khan's Pakistan team faces a much stiffer test against England. 

"The balance of the England team is very good," Khan said. "Their pace attack, their spin attack, their batting order is very good." 

Fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad and spinner Graeme Swann are rated among the top five test bowlers, while Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen are in the batting top 10. 

Khan believes Pakistan has enough bowling resources to challenge England's batsmen. 

"I can say it proudly that Saeed Ajmal is probably the best offspinner in the world," Khan said. 

Ajmal was the leading wicket-taker in test cricket in 2011 with 50 and could be effective on the slow wickets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi - where the three Test matches will be held. 

"Then we also have fast bowler Umar Gul and (Mohammad) Hafeez who plays important role with his offspin in Test matches," Khan added. 

"I think it will be a combination of pace attack and spin attack from both sides and the pressure will be on batsmen of both teams." 

Pakistan leaves for Dubai on January 9 after a four-day training camp in Lahore.

Clarke Double-centurion

Michael Clarke said he hoped to earn some respect from home fans after posting the highest score by an Australian against India in the second Test in Sydney on Wednesday. Clarke has battled to win over the Australian cricket public since taking on the Test captaincy and a year ago he was booed as he came out to bat in a one-day international against England in Brisbane. But he earned the fans’ adulation on Wednesday with an unbeaten 251 as Australia built an imposing 482 for four at second day stumps to hold a lead of 291 with six wickets intact and three days to play. Records toppled for Clarke as he surpassed Doug Walters’ 242 as the highest score by a home batsman on the Sydney Cricket Ground, set back in 1969 against the West Indies. Clarke and Ricky Ponting (134) put on the biggest partnership — 288 runs — for any Australian wicket against India to leave the dispirited tourists with a mountain to climb to save the four-Test series after going down by 122 runs in last week’s opener in Melbourne.

It was Clarke’s 18th century in his 78th Test and fourth against India and bettered his previous Test best 168 against New Zealand in March 2010.