SOCCER DIGEST:ASTON VILLA manager Alex McLeish has not ruled out making a permanent move for Robbie Keane in the summer, after the Republic of Ireland striker impressed during his loan spell at Villa Park.
Keane plays his last game for Villa against Wigan this weekend, having scored three goals in six games during his time at the club so far. McLeish believes the signing has been a success, and added there could be scope for a deal in the close season.
He said: "Who knows? We just need to wait and see what happens between now and then."
Either way, the former Scotland boss hopes tomorrow's game will not be Keane's last appearance in the claret and blue shirt.
"Robbie's been a breath of fresh air," McLeish said. "He's a good leader, he's a talker, and he's a very good footballer. It's been great to have him around. Maybe we've forged a relationship now, and hopefully Robbie thinks of us first if he's going to do this again next season."
Gibson to miss friendly against Czechs
THE FAI has confirmed Darron Gibson of Everton has been withdrawn from next week’s friendly international against the Czech Republic.
The midfielder picked up a knee injury during last weekend’s FA Cup defeat of Blackpool and had to come off eight minutes before the end.
Gibson underwent tests on the knee yesterday and Everton said he would stay at the club so that a more come complete assessment of the problem could be carried out.
It’s expected, however, that the former Manchester united midfielder could be sidelined for up to four weeks.
Giovanni Trapattoni, who is still on course to have 25 players available to him next week, is not expected to call anyone into his squad, although Paul Green may now play a more active role than the Italian had suggested when calling him up earlier in the week.
Priest reassures fans over Guardiola
BARCELONA fans worried coach Pep Guardiola will decide not to extend his contract beyond the end of this season were given reassurance yesterday when his home town priest said he was sure he would stay.
Jean Hakolimana, a Rwandan who has run the local church in Santpedor where Guardiola was born, told Spanish radio he thought the 41-year-old was highly unlikely to leave as he had such strong links to the Catalan club. “If anyone has doubts and that is their faith then they can pray for it but I think he will stay,” Hakolimana said. “You could not understand today’s Barcelona without Guardiola and you could not understand Guardiola without Barca, they are so strongly connected and that’s why I think he will extend his contract,” he said.
Guardiola prefers to renew his contract on an annual basis and said on Saturday he needed more time to decide whether to stay on beyond the end of this season.
Lavelle pounces as St Mary’s prevail
St Mary’s College, Galway 2 Pres College, Headford 1
CAPTAIN Ruairi Lavelle struck the decisive goal four minutes from the end of an absorbing contest as St Mary’s, Galway, reclaimed the Connacht Senior Schools Soccer title at Terryland Park last night.
St Mary’s hit the front in the 24th minute when the excellent Lavelle unleashed a blistering 20-yard free kick into the net. St Mary’s should have added to their advantage before the break when Gabriel D’arcy, Cormac O’Laoi and David Mooney all went close. Headford equalised in the 70th minute through Ross Mellett but Lavelle then pounced for the winner.
ST MARY'S COLLEGE, GALWAY: O'Malley; O'Connell, Goulding, Browne, Kirrane; D'arcy, Lavelle, O'Fatharta, O'Laoi (Devery, 60); McGinty (Osaige, 80); Mooney.
PRESENTATION COLLEGE, HEADFORD: Curry; Dillon (Tuffy, 65), Keady, Moylan, Canty; Kineen, Fahy, Mellett, McDonagh; O'Sullivan, Meenaghan.
Referee: P Barry
Cardiff’s McPhail in race to make final
CARDIFF manager Malky Mackay admits his side are “massive underdogs” heading into this weekend’s League Cup final against Liverpool, but is bullish they can repeat Birmingham’s shock victory of 12 months ago.
Few are giving Mackay’s side much hope of defeating the Merseyside giants in Sunday’s Wembley showpiece, as was the case when Birmingham faced Arsenal in the fixture a year ago.
Mackay said: “My players are looking forward to getting out there and testing themselves.”
Mackay has a couple of injury concerns with defender Mark Hudson and midfielder Stephen McPhail set to undergo late fitness tests. Hudson is carrying a calf problem while Republic of Ireland international McPhail is continuing to try to manage Sjogren’s Syndrome, where the immune system attacks the body’s moisture-producing glands, that he has suffered from in recent months.
Campbell in England squad
SUNDERLAND striker Fraizer Campbell received his first England call-up yesterday as caretaker coach Stuart Pearce began a rebuilding job after the shock resignation of Fabio Capello months before Euro 2012.
The squad for Wednesday’s friendly with the Netherlands at Wembley also includes uncapped Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley and Manchester City right back Micah Richards.
However, there was no place for Rio Ferdinand or Frank Lampard. “I don’t think I’d learn anything on Wednesday evening by watching them play,” Pearce said.
ENGLAND(squad v Netherlands): S Carson (Bursaspor), J Hart (Man City), R Green (West Ham); G Cahill (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), L Baines (Everton), G Johnson (Liverpool), P Jones (Man United), M Richards (Man City), C Smalling (Man United), K Walker (Tottenham); G Barry (Man City), T Cleverley (Man United), S Downing (Liverpool), A Johnson (Man City), S Gerrard (Liverpool), J Milner (Man City), S Parker (Tottenham), A Young (Man United), T Walcott (Arsenal); D Bent (Aston Villa), F Campbell (Sunderland), D Sturridge (Chelsea), W Rooney (Man United), D Welbeck (Man United)
