Today's other stories in brief
McCann back in squad
BURNLEY'S CHRIS McCANN was amongst the 18 players named by Don Givens yesterday for this month's under-21 European Championship qualifier against Montenegro in Galway.
The Dubliner has been enjoying a strong run of form for the Championship side but his prospects of playing representative football at this level had looked slim in the wake of his decision to walk out on the squad prior to November's win over Bulgaria after he failed to make the starting line-up.
With that game having yielded Ireland's only win of the campaign to date, qualification is completely out of the question but Givens has largely stuck with the group that has featured in the previous group matches.
Aside from McCann, the only uncapped players are Coventry's Leon Best, whose recent run of goalscoring has earned him his first call up at this level, and 19-year-old Everton defender Darren Dennehy from Tralee.
Three League of Ireland players, Joe O'Cearuill, Conor Powell and Darren Quigley, make the panel and O'Cearuill is one of a handful - including Andy Keogh, Darron Gibson and Anthony Stokes - to have some experience of the senior international set-up. The Irish were beaten 1-0 in their previous meeting with Montenegro and could do with beating them on March 25th if they are to maintain their hopes of climbing above them in the group table. Ireland's campaign concludes in September with games away to Bulgaria and Portugal.
England are all but assured of a place in the next round of the competition while Portugal need to take at least seven points from their last three games if they are to have any chance of progressing.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (squad): D Randolph (Charlton Athletic), D Quigley (Derry City), E Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), J O'Cearuill (St Patrick's Athletic), D Dennehy (Everton), C Powell (Bohemians), D O'Dea (Celtic), S Gleeson (Wolves), S Quinn (Sheffield United), D Gibson (Wolves), C McCann (Burnley), J O'Brien (Dundee United), K Treacy (Blackburn Rovers), B Clarke (Ipswich Town), A Stokes (Sunderland), L Best (Coventry City), A Keogh (Wolves), JJ O'Toole (Watford).
- EMMET MALONE
Lampard wants contract talks
FRANK LAMPARD has told Chelsea he wants his future sorted out as the club continue to stall over a new contract.
The England midfielder is running out of patience over his contract situation, which could remain in limbo until the summer. Lampard, who scored four goals in Chelsea's 6-1 demolition of Derby on Wednesday night, insists he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge but is perplexed by the fact no offer has been made.
"I've been approached a few times by the club saying they are going to come to me with something and they haven't," declared Lampard. "That means they're saying they will have to wait until the summer and I don't really know what that means. I said at the beginning of the season I didn't want to talk about my contract because I wanted to concentrate on my football.
"They have made contact but it hasn't been with any news. They've been saying that something is going to happen but if we wait until the summer and nothing happens, then I've got a year left, which is not a position I want to be in.
"I've made it clear I want to stay here and I want to know what's going on. I love playing for this club, I'm enjoying the greatest days of my career. Every time I run out for the club I don't think about the contract but when I am at home I would like it to be sorted out. It's dragged on this season and that's not ideal for me."
The spotlight is now back on the club. Coach Avram Grant refuses to talk about his contract negotiations, saying it is not his area.
Ronaldo remains optimistic
BRAZILIAN STRIKER Ronaldo is looking to the future with optimism claiming "the worst is over" on his road to recovery.
The 31-year-old returned to the AC Milan camp for the first time since undergoing surgery on his left knee last month in Paris.
Ronaldo ruptured a ligament in his knee during his team's 1-1 draw at Livorno, sparking fears the injury could be career-threatening.
"I feel better, the worst is over now," said Ronaldo on the club's official website, www.acmilan.com. "I no longer feel pain and now I am able to walk better. It's not long now before I will be able to stop using the crutches."
However, Ronaldo remains cautious regarding his future plans. "For the time being, it's early to speak about taking a decision," he said.
"But I am preparing for the big challenge."
Cunningham rescues Ireland
GREG CUNNINGHAM rescued Ireland's prospects of reaching the Uefa Under-17 finals last night when he equalised 12 minutes from time to earn a 1-1 draw against Germany at Terryland Park, Galway. Ireland trailed on eight minutes through a Felix Kroos shot which deflected off Gavin Gunning on its way past goalkeeper Ger Hanley.
Ireland took control in the second half after Marcos Alvarez was sent off.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Hanley (Salthill Devon), Dunleavy (Wolves), Timmons (Birmingham), Gunning (Blackburn), Connolly (Wolves), Morrissey (Ringmahon), Doran (Blackburn), Clifford (Chelsea), Satelle (Crumlin), Murphy (Ipswich), Cunningham (Manchester City). Subs: Brady (Manchester United) for Satelle (35 mins), Hourihane (Sunderland) for Timmons (51 mins), Sullivan (Crumlin United) for Clifford (76 mins)
GERMANY: Bussman, Becker, Alvarez, Hornschuh, Basturk, Kroos (Zellner 63), Hartmann, Gulde, Cincotta (Fardi 31), Herman (Horber 68), Stiepermann.
Referee: Arman Amirkhanyan.
