Emmanuel Adebayor returns to Tottenham’s first-team training after reserves exile

Emmanuel Adebayor has come in from the cold at Spurs (Picture: Getty)

Emmanuel Adebayor has rejoined the Tottenham first-team at the club’s training ground after two weeks of being exiled with the reserves.
The Spurs striker has been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane this summer and remains a loan target of Championship leaders QPR.
And boss Andre Villas-Boas sent Adebayor to train with the club’s development side earlier this month to prove his fitness, following a lack of pre-season action alongside compassionate leave after the death of his brother in Togo.
But Adebayor has now been granted permission to train alongside the likes of Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen, Gylfi Sigurdsson and co.
MORE: I deserved yellow for Chelsea dive, admits Andros Townsend

Hey guys, today was my first day back training with the first team. Good to be back and feeling good! Have a great day everyone!—
Emmanuel Adebayor (@E_Adebayor) September 30, 2013

The Togo international wrote on Twitter: ‘Hey guys, today was my first day back training with the first team. Good to be back and feeling good! Have a great day everyone!’
It is likely to be too early for Adebayor to be in contention for a place in Villas-Boas’ side for Thursday’s Europa League trip to Anzhi Makhachkala, but he may be hopeful of a return to action sometime in October.

Liverpool must not give Luis Suarez a new contract, says John Aldridge

John Aldridge has urged Liverpool not to give Luis Suarez a new contract (Picture: Getty)

Liverpool legend John Aldridge has urged his former club to ditch plans to offer Luis Suarez a new contract.
Suarez, who had asked for a move away from Anfield over the summer, was subject of intense interest from both Arsenal and Real Madrid.
But despite pushing for the switch, he eventually stayed put, and reports last week suggested the Reds are set to tie him down to a new long-term contract.
However, Kop Hero Aldridge has hit out at the idea, and says Suarez should not be rewarded for wanting to leave.
‘Suarez was very keen to leave Liverpool in the summer and I have no doubt that he will look to get away once again,’ said Aldridge.
MORE: Brendan Rodgers impressed with Luis Suarez’s ‘mental steel’ on Liverpool return

Suarez has been in good form on his return to action (Picture: Getty)

‘So why try and get him to commit to the club now, so soon after he did the dirty on them with his bid to join Arsenal?
‘Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre may have told the media he would consider a new contract for Suarez in a bid to dampen down any fresh speculation over the future of the striker.
‘But if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League once again, I’m sure Suarez will want to leave and I would advise my old club to get as much money for him as possible and rebuild the team with the new funds.’
Suarez would reportedly pocket around £160,000-a-week as part of a new deal, which would make him Liverpool’s most highly paid ever.
It’s thought that despite Aldridge’s comments, negotiations over the new deal could begin as early as next week.

Neil Lennon admits being gutted at Lionel Messi injury as ‘I wanted his shirt’

Neil Lennon admits he was keen to get his hands on Messi’s shirt (Picture: Getty)

Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he is gutted Lionel Messi will not be playing against his side this week – because he wanted to pinch his shirt.
Barcelona superstar Messi has not travelled with his team-mates to Parkhead after picking up a thigh injury at the weekend.
But despite the omission of the world’s best player clearly helping Celtic’s chances of winning, boss Lennon wanted Messi to be involved, albeit for selfish reasons.
‘It’s tinged with sadness as it’s always good to see the best players here in Glasgow,’ said Lennon.

Plenty of players want to get their hands on Messi’s top (Picture: Getty)

‘I also wanted his shirt.’
Lennon’s desire to get his hands on the Argentine’s shirt is no surprise – Messi has scored 62 goals in 80 matches in the Champions League.
However, one of them came against Celtic last season – and even if their manager is not happy, the Hoops’ backline certainly will be glad that Messi is absent.
Still, he should be fit for the return match at the Nou Camp before Christmas.

WENGER WARNS AGAINST OZIL ARSENAL OVERLOAD…!!!

LONDON

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has attempted to play down the expectations surrounding Mesut Ozil ahead of the Germany international's eagerly anticipated home debut against Stoke City on Sunday.

The deadline day arrival of Ozil from Real Madrid for a club record £43 million ($69 million) provided a huge lift to the north London side.

And the playmaker made an immediate impact, taking just 11 minutes to set up Olivier Giroud's opening goal in the 3-1 victory at Sunderland last time out.

YET TO ADAPT

Ozil's first appearance suggested he'll slot into his new surroundings easily, but Wenger insisted it takes time to adjust to the Premier League.

"I think he is not at the top physically yet," Wenger said.

"Overall we are very pleased to have him with us, but he will demand a bit of time to adjust to the vigorous body challenges he will face in the Premier League. Once he has done that, he will be even stronger."

Victory at the Stadium of Light made it six wins in a row for the Gunners since their opening day home defeat by Aston Villa -- a run that has seen them qualify for the Champions League and taken them towards the head of the domestic championship.

IN-FORM GIROUD

And while Ozil's arrival has dominated events at the Emirates Stadium, the form of Giroud has been one of the main factors in Arsenal's progress.

The France international has scored five times already and after a pre-season in which the club was repeatedly linked with a new forward, Wenger believes Giroud deserves credit for his response.

"Every day when you opened a newspaper he saw another striker coming here but he didn't say anything," Wenger explained.

"For me that's the best answer you can give when you're a football player. Don't talk too much, play and show how good you are. Many people forget that sometimes but that's the core of your job."

HUGHES HAILS RAMSEY

Meanwhile, Stoke manager Mark Hughes has saluted fellow Welshman Aaron Ramsey for his stunning start to the season at Arsenal.

It was Potters captain Ryan Shawcross's challenge on the Arsenal player three years ago which left Ramsey with a broken leg.

However the midfielder has finally looked to have put the incident behind him this term, having already found the net seven times for club and country.

"I'm really pleased for him," said Hughes, a former Wales manager. "He's an outstanding player and is playing really well. He has added goals to his game and turned it round.

"I probably watched Arsenal last year more than most and he was struggling for a bit of form and the crowd sometimes lost patience with him. For him to show the courage to get his performance levels high, full credit to him.

"The business with Ryan Shawcross was a long time ago and everyone acknowledges it was unfortunate that a player was badly injured. It was not intentional," Hughes insisted.

"It's unfortunate the matter gets brought up every time Stoke play Arsenal. Thankfully, the boy has been able to get back to an even higher level."

Hughes has also backed Kenwyne Jones to improve his team's scoring record, which stands at just three league goals despite Stoke claiming an impressive seven points from their opening four matches.

"Kenwyne is doing really well and giving me good presence at the top end of the pitch," Hughes said. "All that's lacking is goals in the Premier League.

"If we continue to create chances, he will take some because he's one of those players who scores one and then scores more. I'm sure he will score goals for me."

ANDY MURRAY: BACK SURGERY SET TO END WIMBLEDON CHAMPION'S YEAR

Andy Murray is unlikely to play again this season after deciding to undergo surgery on a long-standing back injury.

The 26-year-old has a disc problem in his lower back and is set to miss this year's remaining tour events, including November's World Tour Finals in London.

The injury flared up in May, forcing him to withdraw from the French Open.He returned in July and was the first Briton to win Wimbledon since 1936, but has struggled back on the hard courts and lost in the US Open quarter-finals.

The disc problem, which Murray has suffered for two years, affects a nerve in his lower back which can send pain shooting down his hip and upper leg.

It appears to cause him more problems when he plays on clay and the harder surfaces than on grass courts.

He had pain-killing injections before the 2012 French Open and withdrew from this year's Rome Masters midway through a match against Marcel Granollers. After consulting medical advice, he decided he would not be fit for Roland Garros.

There were signs of discomfort at the US Open, but he only took the decision to have surgery after last weekend's Davis Cup tie on clay in Croatia. He admitted his back was sore after last Friday's opening singles victory over Borna Coric.

Murray had been scheduled to play three more events in Asia this season, including the Shanghai Masters, then the Paris Masters before heading to the World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena from 4-11 November.

There is no suggestion that next year's schedule will be affected and it is hoped he will kick off his regular pre-season training block in Miami in the middle of November.

SPORTS...!!! BARCLAYS REPORTS £500M INCOME FALL...

Barclays bank has said its income fell by £500m ($790m) in July and August from a year ago and says it "remains cautious" about the current climate.

The drop was thanks to "significantly" lower revenues in its investment banking division.

Barclays also gave more details of the £5.95bn it wants to raise by issuing new shares to help plug a £12.8bn capital shortfall.

Shareholders are being offered one new share at 185p for every four they own.

The new shares are expected to begin trading on 4 October.

In a trading statement, the bank said: "Barclays continues to remain cautious about the environment in which it operates and its focus remains on costs, capital, leverage and returns in order to drive sustainable performance improvements."

It added that the investment bank's daily performance in September had improved from July and August, but was still below levels seen in September 2012.

Barclays said its cost-cutting plan was proceeding to plan and that it expected operating costs to be £18.5bn this year, excluding restructuring costs.

SPORTS: Mesut Ozil says Arsenal can win Premier League TITLE...

New signing Mesut Ozil says Arsenal can win the Premier League this season.

The 24-year-old Germany midfielder was a £42.4m recruit from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day.

Continue reading the main story

“It is very physical here but I am really glad to play in the best league in the world.”

Mesut Ozil

Asked on Thursday if he thought the Gunners could challenge for the title, he responded: "Of course.

"I know the team, I know that talent we have here and I think every player wants to be successful. It will be difficult because this is the strongest league in the world."

Ozil, who is Arsenal's record signing, could feature for his new team when they face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

"I have watched a lot of Premier League games," he said. "It is very physical here but I am really glad to play in the best league in the world.

"I want to prove myself in England and I look forward to playing here. I know I will prove myself here."

He added: "We want to play offensive and good football. To keep clean sheets and play attractive football.

"I can't promise to win trophies but I can promise as a team we will give our all to achieve this."

Podolski out to rock Arsenal alongside Ozil...

Injured Arsenal star Lukas Podolski has said he is relishing the chance to “rock” the Gunners alongside his Germany team-mate Mesut Ozil after the latter signed a five-year deal.

Podolski is expected to miss the rest of 2013 after tearing his left hamstring in the Gunner’s 2-0 win over Fenerbahce in last week’s Champions League play-off but is relishing the chance to play for Arsenal alongside ex-Real Madrid star Ozil in the new year.

“Mesut and I are going to rock Arsenal,” Podolski told German daily Bild. “It’s great that he’s coming, he’s a good friend and a brilliant footballer.”

The 24-year-old Ozil joined Arsenal for 50 million euros ($65.94 million) on Monday and left winger Podolski said he is relishing the prospect of linking up with Germany’s midfield play-maker.

“He’s a great fit for us. We’re already playing great football, the only thing that was missing was the final punch, that element of surprise,” said Podolski.

Perfect partnership

“That’s exactly what Mesut will give us.”

Podolski has said he is sad that he will not be able to play alongside Ozil and their Germany team-mate Per Mertesacker for the Gunners until the new year.

“It’s extremely sad, I would have liked to have played with Mesut straight away, not watched him from the stands,” added Podolski. “But I can’t change that, can’t sew the muscle back together again.” Ozil, Arsenal’s record signing, yesterday expressed confidence that he can hit the ground running at the Emirates Stadium and help the club end their eight-year trophy drought.

Ozil signed from Real Madrid on Monday after being told he could no longer be certain of a first-team place at the Bernabeu following the arrivals of Isco and Gareth Bale.

The German midfielder’s international manager, Joachim Low, has expressed surprise at the move but Ozil says he is motivated by the challenge of helping Arsenal win a first title since the 2005 FA Cup.

“I want to improve myself further and I am looking forward to the style of play,” Ozil told the Arsenal website.

“Arsenal are well known for the strength of their technical game and their desire to play attacking football. I think I will fit perfectly into that. That is why I chose to sign for the club.

“In the last few years, Arsenal haven’t been so successful, but we want to become more successful. We want to win trophies. I think the fans are looking forward to that too. (AFP)

FRANK RIBERY BELIEVES IN BALLON D'OR CHANCES....

UEFA's President Michel Platini (R) delivers the “UEFA Best Player in Europe 2012/2013 Award” to French player Franck Ribery on August 29, 2013 in Monaco after the Champions League group stage draw.  

France winger Franck Ribery said Tuesday he is confident he can land the prestigious Ballon d'Or prize for the world's best player.

The 30-year-old was last week named the best player in Europe by UEFA ahead of his club side Bayern Munich lifting the European Supercup with a penalty shoot-out success over Chelsea.

And although Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi has owned the Ballon d'Or for the last four years, Ribery believes he is good enough to wrench it away from the diminutive forward.

"Of course I believe," said Ribery from France's pre-World Cup qualifier training base near Paris.

"Last year I did what was needed on the pitch and off it, I was very professional. I enjoyed myself with my team, I took a lot of pleasure (and) I'm full of confidence."

Ribery is likely to feature for France in World Cup European zone qualifying Group I matches against Georgia and Belarus over the coming week.

Joachim LOEW BEMUSED BY "REAL SELLING OZIL TO ARSENAL..."

Mesut Ozil's move to Arsenal is good for the German national side, coach Joachim Loew believes, but he is bemused by Real Madrid's decision to sell their midfield star.

Ozil, 24, joined Premier League side Arsenal for 50 million euros on Monday's transfer deadline day after Real completed the signing of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur.

Loew said he was happy to see Ozil move to the Gunners to work under coach Arsene Wenger, but bemused as to why Real let him go.

"The transfer is good for the national team, he will have a top coach at Arsenal and will be playing at a very high level, that'll suit him well," said Loew with Germany hosting Austria in a World Cup qualifier in Munich on Friday.

"I have heard a few players like Cristiano Ronaldo or Sami Khedira are sad to lose a class player.

"And for me it's hard to understand why Real let one of their top scorers go, but that's business."

Ozil netted 10 goals for Real last season, setting up a further 24 as Cristiano Ronaldo finished as Real's top scorer with 55.

Loew said he has already noticed Ozil is clearly "happy and satisfied" with the move during his training sessions with the Germany squad in Munich.

"He's a sensitive player who needs a lot of confidence in him from his club and coach," said Loew.

"I phoned him in the days before the transfer, because you could feel that this trust was not quite 100 percent there."

Ozil has made 47 appearances for Germany, scoring 14 goals.