A round-up of today's other stories in brief
El-Hadji Diouf vents his views about ‘egotistical’ Gerrard
Former Liverpool player El-Hadji Diouf has labelled Steven Gerrard “egotistical” and claimed major figures at Liverpool “cannot stand” the current club captain.
Leeds United forward Diouf gave an interview to French sports daily L’Equipe in which he defended himself against his bad-boy reputation and hit out at his former Anfield team-mate, who criticised him in his 2007 autobiography.
Gerrard wrote: “I wasn’t Diouf’s number one fan. Being around Melwood and Anfield I knew which players were hungry, which players had Liverpool at heart. Diouf was just interested in himself.
“His attitude was all wrong. I felt he wasn’t really a***d about putting his body on the line to get Liverpool back at the top.”
Diouf said: “I was in Pele’s 100 players of the century. Not him. I respect him as a footballer, but there is nobody more egotistical than him.
“He does not care about others. I spoke to the major figures at Liverpool and nobody can stand him. And I am not talking about (Jamie) Carragher.”
Everton agree deal for Hitzlsperger
Everton have signed German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger on a short-term contract until January, subject to international clearance.
The former Aston Villa and West Ham player has been without a club since leaving Wolfsburg in the summer.
Everton confirmed the deal yesterday and are hopeful that because the contract was signed before the midday deadline he will be available to David Moyes for tomorrow’s Premier League clash at QPR.
Hitzlsperger managed only two league starts in the Bundesliga last season after he suffered a knee injury.
In a bid to earn a deal at Goodison Park, Hitzlsperger has been training with the Toffees and played 90 minutes for the under-21 side on October 8th.
Moyes has moved for the 30-year-old after it was confirmed that Marouane Fellaini will miss the next three weeks with a knee injury, while he is also without Darron Gibson with a thigh injury. Hitzlsperger has earned 52 caps for his country and made 208 league appearances for Aston Villa.
Kirkland punched in Yorkshire derby
Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was assaulted on the field during last night’s Yorkshire derby draw against Leeds United. The former England international (31) had just conceded a 77th-minute equaliser to Michael Tonge when the incident happened, with a fan running onto the field from the Leppings Lane End which was housing the Leeds fans, and appearing to punch Kirkland in the face.
The man then returned to the stand while trouble continued around him, with a number of other visiting supporters running on and off the field and stewards struggled to contain them. Trouble had been brewing throughout the night, with a section of the away support throwing bottles on the field as they clashed with stewards and police, while the home fans stoked things up by singing songs that referenced the two Leeds fans who were killed in Turkey in April 2000.
The Leeds fans amongst the crowd of 28,582 also courted controversy by singing songs that referenced criminal charges against Wednesday manager Dave Jones which were eventually dropped.
Wilshere returns to Arsenal squad for the trip to Norwich
England international Jack Wilshere is set to feature in the Arsenal squad for the first time in over a year at Norwich City this evening (live on ESPN, kick-off 5.30pm ).
Wilshere, 20, has been out for 14 months with niggling ankle and knee injuries, but came through another run-out in midweek as his rehabilitation moves up a gear.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told journalists in his pre-match media conference yesterday the midfielder would most likely play in another under-21s game against Everton next week, and then come into contention for the Capital One Cup tie at Reading on October 30th.
However, Wilshere’s agent Simon Bayliff said yesterday that the midfielder would be making the trip to Norfolk.
He wrote on Twitter: “It’s been two ”good news“ days in a row. Doesn’t happen very often. Jack travels to Norwich in the #AFC 1st team squad! Delighted.”
Arsenal last lost at Carrow Road on St Stephen’s Day 1984, and are unbeaten in 11 league games since.
Hamstring strain rules Silva out of action for the week
David Silva will miss Manchester City’s league game at West Bromwich Albion today and the Champions League group match at Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.
The playmaker suffered the problem on Tuesday during Spain’s 1-1 draw against France in a World Cup qualifier .
Roberto Mancini said of Silva’s prospective return: “We hope that maybe next game, not in the Champions League, I don’t think, but the next game against Swansea.” The champions host Michael Laudrup’s side next weekend.
The City manager will also be without Javi García at The Hawthorns and in Amsterdam with his hamstring injury, and a similar problem rules out Jack Rodwell this afternoon.
