Smith is Scotland boss: Scotland's new manager Walter Smith will make it his priority to speak to players who have turned their backs on the national team. The former Rangers and Everton manager, who was installed as manager in a four-year deal yesterday, immediately made it clear he has wiped the slate clean following Berti Vogts' unhappy and unsuccessful spell in charge.
In recent years, during and even before the German's tenure, players such as the Everton pair Duncan Ferguson and David Weir and Dominic Matteo of Blackburn Rovers have called it a day at international level.
But such is the paucity of talent available that Smith has refused to rule anyone out of the equation. "I need to know why a player has stopped playing for Scotland first of all and after that, if I feel he could bring some benefit to the squad, then I would speak to him," he said.
PFAI calls for action
The PFAI has called on the Eircom League to take immediate action against Dundalk unless monies owed to the club's players from last season are paid up immediately, reports Emmet Malone. The association's chairman, Fran Gavin, expressed frustration yesterday that the club had failed to honour an agreement to pay all back money due, up to seven weeks' wages in some cases, prior to the club's last game of the season and he suggested that the FAI's licensing committee should refuse the club a licence if the situation is not rectified.
"The behaviour of the club is inexcusable and Dundalk FC have, in our opinion, brought the game into serious disrepute," said Gavin who went on to criticise league officials for their failure to take a stronger line in the face of repeated difficulties with clubs over the payment of wages.
Butt out until New Year
Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt will be sidelined until the New Year after a scan revealed tendinitis in his hamstring. Manager Graeme Souness will be without his holding midfield player for up to six weeks after medics finally diagnosed the problem which has hampered him since his £2.5 million switch from Manchester United during the summer.
The Magpies believe Butt arrived from Old Trafford with the problem, but are confident Butt can recover by resting. "Nicky Butt has been told he must rest for somewhere between four and six weeks with tendinitis in the hamstring where it joins his backside, so that's not great news for us," said Souness.
"He's extremely disappointed. I think he arrived with it, I think it's something that's been niggling him for a while and it's not had a chance to settle down. It's an enormous blow for us."
Butt will be joined on the sidelines by skipper Alan Shearer for tomorrow's difficult Premiership trip to leaders Chelsea. Shearer has had to admit defeat in his bid to return early from a thigh strain and, like hamstring victim Andy O'Brien, could be back for the clash with Portsmouth at St James' Park next weekend.
Gresko out for season
Blackburn defender Vratislav Gresko has been ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage. The 27-year-old was injured while playing for Slovakia in the goalless draw with Slovenia two weeks ago. The former Inter Milan full-back played in Blackburn's opening three matches of the season but only featured for new boss Mark Hughes in the League Cup defeat to Bournemouth.
Larsson promise
Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson has vowed to bounce back from his knee injury and repay those who have offered him their support.
The 33-year-old Swede flew out to Colorado on Tuesday to undergo surgery on the cruciate ligament he tore during the 3-0 defeat of Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on November 20th. Even though he will be operated on by world renowned surgeon Richard Steadman, Larsson admits he is still nervous about the outcome. "I am a little worried because there is a lot at stake but I am in the best hands and I have my fingers crossed."
Wenger warning
Arsene Wenger has cautioned against judging his Arsenal team against last season's record-breaking exploits. Arsenal face Birmingham tomorrow in the middle of a rare dip in form, having gleaned just six points from their last six league matches, seen their Champions League campaign slide to the brink of disaster and tumble out of the League Cup. Yet despite the gloomy picture, Arsenal are just four points behind Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, five in front of Manchester United and suffered only their second league defeat in 55 matches at Liverpool last week.
"I can't say I am happy with the number of points we have so far but we also have to be realistic. Look at the history of English football. No side has gone through a season as long as we did last year and not lost a game. It was exceptional, so you cannot look at our results this season, compare them to last year and say it is disastrous."
