Cox open to transfer move or loan deal

WEST BROM and Republic of Ireland striker Simon Cox is seeking a move away from The Hawthorns during the January transfer window because of his lack of first-team football this season.

Having started just two league games, Cox is open to the possibility of either going out on loan or being sold if head coach Roy Hodgson and chairman Jeremy Peace receive a satisfactory offer.

“I don’t know,” said Cox yesterday when asked of a permanent move. “If someone comes in to buy me and it’s the right price, and the chairman and manager say ‘yes’ then it’s out of my hands.

“If they say ‘no’ and a loan is the preferred option, then that’s the sort of road we might have to go down. It’s a decision we’re going to have to make as a club and myself and my family in the next couple of weeks.”

Cox’s opportunities have dried up since international team-mate Shane Long arrived from Reading in the summer and struck up a partnership with Peter Odemwingie that has yielded nine goals between them this season.

With Ireland heavily stocked in the striking department as Euro 2012 approaches he is eager to make sure he’s in Giovanni Trapattoni’s plans.

He may now benefit, however, from a back injury to Long that looks likely to keep the Tipperary man out for at least two weeks, though it could also offer a chance for Marc-Antoine Fortune to impress after his recall from a loan spell at Doncaster.

Long, who has had an injection to ease the problem, was ruled out of the midweek loss against Spurs and is also set to be on the sidelines for the FA Cup tie with Cardiff and the league encounter with Norwich.

“I had an injection yesterday to speed things up but it’s very tender at the moment,” said the Irishman. “I’m not training. Hopefully it’s only going to take a week or two and it’s no more serious than that.

“The injection is designed to kill the pain so I can start on my rehab. I’m going to try to aim to be fit for the Norwich game, but that might be a bit too soon.”

Everton have recalled Republic of Ireland Under-21 centre-back Shane Duffy from his loan spell at Scunthorpe, after Phil Jagielka limped out of the 2-1 defeat to Bolton on Wednesday night. He may be in the squad for the FA Cup third-round home tie against Tamworth tomorrow.

Sunderland defender and Republic of Ireland Under-19 international John Egan has joined Championship side Crystal Palace on a month’s loan. The 19-year-old, who has captained Sunderland’s reserves, was an unused sub against Manchester United and Fulham this season. He too could see FA Cup action this weekend when Palace travel to Derby tomorrow.