Ever-present left-back George McCartney should be back in training next week
16.11.2007
West Ham United head physiotherapist George Cooper has given an update on
George McCartney's hopes of facing Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday week.
While several players are away serving their countries over the
international break, there has been plenty of effort at Chadwell Heath to
give manager Alan Curbishley more options for the London derby and a busy
December. The club, sitting in tenth place and with a Carling Cup
quarter-final to look forward to, are looking to make it six games unbeaten
in all competitions.
The most recent success was a 5-0 defeat of Derby last Saturday but the one
low point was the ankle injury suffered by McCartney, which then caused him
to miss out on Northern Ireland duty this week. However, the signs are good
that the ever-present could yet make his 16th appearance this season. Cooper
said: "The ankle has settled down nicely, it is not as bad as we first
thought. He should begin training next week and be in contention for Spurs."
Dean Ashton, Scott Parker and Freddie Ljungberg have continued to make good
progress with Tottenham in mind, with Cooper adding: "All are in really good
condition and I am really pleased with them." Lee Bowyer, who is suspended
for the Spurs visit, has returned from Germany after his hernia operation.
"He is already walking around which is a very good sign that things went
well," said Cooper. "He will begin light running on Monday - building up to
full speed throughout the week then will begin full training the following
Monday."
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Ashton: 'Fans give me extra belief' - WHUFC
Strong support from fans has left Dean Ashton determined to do his best
16.11.2007
Dean Ashton is determined to get back to his best for West Ham United in
order to repay supporters.
The striker, who turns 24 the day before the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on
Sunday week, has been moved by the passionate reception given to him in the
past year. First in battling back after nearly 12 months out with an ankle
injury and then in backing him in recent weeks as he has coped with a knee
strain that caused him to miss the club's run of five games unbeaten in all
competitions.
"I want to be out there for the fans," said Ashton, who is targeting at
least a squad place against Tottenham. "Coming back especially pre-season
and then in the first game, the fans were absolutely brilliant with me and
singing my name all the time. That really, really boosted me up after the
year I had. I just want to repay that by playing well, scoring goals and
helping the team do well."
Ashton knows though the importance of taking it slowly, and is well aware
that he has "got to get fit and get right" in order to show supporters that
he is capable of adding to the three goals from eight first-team appearances
this season. That said, he cannot wait to hear the chants of 'Deano, Deano'
ringing out again around the Boleyn Ground.
"It is really special considering it is West Ham and the club that this is
and the history it has had," Ashton added about having his name sung from
all corners of the stadium. "For them to be singing to me is great and it
just gives you that extra belief in yourself to go out and play well."
Ashton is particularly hoping to hear it at the most illustrious venue of
all - Wembley - and has watched the team's progress to a Carling Cup
quarter-final tie against Everton next month with interest. "Obviously a
home draw was important especially at this stage," he said. "To get that is
fantastic but Everton are a very strong team so it will be very difficult.
We feel as if we can progress and we really want to get to the final. That's
what we want to do and we can get there."
Spurring him on is the memory of the 2006 FA Cup final when he put West Ham
United 2-0 up against Liverpool in Cardiff and had a key role in what was "a
great day" for the club, despite the heartbreak of losing on penalties.
"Getting to that was unbelievable for the fans, the players, everybody. It
was such a good achievement I think we all want to be part of that again.
People might sometimes frown at the Carling Cup but I think to get to the
final at Wembley would be really special."
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Football memorabilia up for sale - BBC
A shirt worn by Pele during a football World Cup final and caps belonging to
Bobby Moore who led England to victory in 1966 are to be auctioned. Pele's
shirt, which he wore while playing in the 1970 match, is expected to fetch
up to £80,000. Two caps belonging to Moore, relating to matches in 1962 and
1965 may be sold for up to £8,000 each.
The items are being sold by Brazilian player and coach Mario Zagallo's son
and Mr Moore's family on Tuesday.
After the 1970 final against Italy, Pele gave the shirt to Mr Zagallo, who
was the then team's manager. It was added to his collection of 1,500
football shirts. Mario Cesar who is Mr Zagallo's son is selling part of his
father's collection.
Christie's sports memorabilia specialist David Convery said: "Zagallo is a
very famous footballing icon, who has won the World Cup both as a player and
as a manager. "The Pele shirt has a special significance because it comes
from what is widely regarded as the greatest-ever World Cup final, and it
was worn when Pele scored his last international goal." Mr Moore's family
will be putting up 14 items belonging to him for auction, including a silver
salver presented to him which is expected to fetch up to £20,000. Mr Convery
said: "These are likely to be the last remaining mementoes linked to him to
come onto the open market."
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The injury situation starts to improve - West Ham Online
Match Reporter - Fri Nov 16 2007
George McCartney who limped out of the thrashing of Derby early with
ligament damage to his ankle will return to training next week and should be
fit for the visit of Tottenham Sunday week. Further good news is that
Freddie Ljungberg, Dean Ashton and Scott Parker are also on target to be fit
to face Spurs. Hayden Mullins is another who should be involved after his
foot injury. Sadly the game looks to be to early for Craig Bellamy who has
had further problems with his hernia, Mark Noble who is recovering from a
hernia operation and Anton Ferdinand who is recoving from a hamstring
injury. Lee Bowyer is back from his sucessful hernia operation in Germany
earlier this week and is walking around. He would of course have been
suspended for the Spurs game after picking up his 5th yellow card in the win
over Derby.
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Injury boost for Hammers - football.co.uk
Friday Nov 16 2007 16:31
West Ham defender George McCartney has provided manager Alan Curbishley with
a fitness boost after shrugging off an ankle problem. McCartney limped out
of last weekend's 5-0 thrashing of Derby County with an ankle problem which
saw him join the Hammers' lengthy injury list. Curbishley is currently
without 12 first-team players including Dean Ashton, Scott Parker and
Freddie Ljungberg, but McCartney has provided a timely boost by being passed
fit to face Tottenham in their next match on November 25. "The ankle has
settled down nicely, it is not as bad as we first thought," head
physiotherapist George Cooper told the club's official website. "He should
begin training next week and be in contention for Spurs."
Meanwhile, midfielder Lee Bowyer has returned to Upton Park in encouraging
condition following a recent hernia operation in Germany. "He is already
walking around which is a very good sign that things went well," added
Cooper.
"He will begin light running on Monday - building up to full speed
throughout the week - then will begin full training the following Monday."
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Man City & West Ham-Target Djibril Cisse Suggests January Move - Premiership
Latest
Marseille striker Djibril Cisse has suggested that he is considering a move
as the transfer window opens in January with reports pointing to Manchester
City and West Ham United being interested in the France international. The
26-year-old had signed on a permanent deal at Le Velodrome during the summer
after spending a season on loan at the French club from Liverpool. However,
he has not been in top form this term and is apparently unsettled at Eric
Gerets' side. "If I say that I am not thinking of a January move, I will
lie," Cisse told L'Equipe. "Sometimes this atmosphere makes me think about
it. But to be honest I don't want to. I am a fighter and I want to succeed.
"I know my qualities and I know that it is going to pay. I do what I am
asking to do at training. "I am fed up with all those articles about me.
Change of subject or speak to another player because it is going to break my
balls."
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Tottenham defender just can't wait to get at the Hammers - Daily Mail
Last updated at 13:57pm on 16th November 2007
Tottenham defender Michael Dawson can't wait to get back to Premier League
action as the club are on such a high.
After last weekend's 4-0 hammering of Wigan, Spurs face West Ham next week
but that cannot come soon enough for Dawson who told the official Tottenham
website: "We needed that result, it was a big win for us, and now we've got
to build on it and go into the West Ham game full of confidence. "Another
win would be great and it would help us climb up the table. One win doesn't
mean too much at this time of the season, but it was a massive win against
Wigan and hopefully we'll go into the next game full of confidence. "There's
not many of the first-team players left at the training ground at the minute
because we've got such a good squad and they're all on international duty.
But it's training as normal for me, and it's hard work."
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Hammers defender set to return against Spurs - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:31pm on 16th November 2007
George McCartney is winning his battle to be fit for West Ham's derby with
Tottenham on November 25. The left-back withdrew from the Northern Ireland
squad after injuring his ankle at Derby on Saturday. Mark Noble and Lee
Bowyer are continuing their rehabilitation after both had to undergo hernia
operations.
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Tottenham defender given all-clear to return - Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:12pm on 16th November 2007
Benoit Assou-Ekotto is progressing well after his knee injury and hopes to
be available for Tottenham's match with West Ham next Sunday. The Cameroon
defender has not played since September but the swelling on his knee is
responding well to treatment according to the medical staff.
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Reading plan bid for West Ham's Mullins
tribalfooball.com - November 15, 2007
Reading are chasing West Ham United midfielder Hayden Mullins. Royals boss
Steve Coppell wants to bring Mullins back to the club in January, but may
struggle to convince the Hammers to sell given the midfielder's form this
season.
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Saunders sticks up for Gabbidon - TeamTalk
Dean Saunders has hit out at Danny Gabbidon's critics and insisted he was
not singled out by John Toshack in his recent blast at Wales' stars. Toshack
was careful not to mention specific names at the time he delivered the
verbal roasting, made during the Euro 2008 qualifiers last month in Cyprus
and San Marino. In fact, Toshack pointedly chose to hold individual
discussions with skipper Craig Bellamy, Carl Robinson, Gabbidon and Simon
Davies - who will captain Wales for the first time tomorrow against the
Republic of Ireland in Cardiff. But in the fall-out from Toshack's remarks,
West Ham defender Gabbidon and his friend Robert Earnshaw, have taken the
brunt of critical comment. Saunders, Wales' assistant manager, said: "Tosh
was careful to talk in general terms, not just singling out one or two
players. Anything else would be wrong. "Gabbidon is now playing every week
for West Ham, he's a good lad and I know that because I have played in the
same side as him. I don't think he should be picked on. "The finger has not
been pointed at Danny, that would be the wrong slant on things. "He missed
six months through injury, then got hurt again in pre-season and came to
play for us without any first-team football. "That is difficult for anyone."
He added: "He is a very important player for us, one of our most experienced
players and he is not that old. "He plays an influential position
marshalling the defence, and we need him playing at the top of his game for
us. "But it is helping him now that he is playing every week for West Ham,
because that wasn't the case earlier in the season. "He has got better and
better with each game and he has trained really well for us and looked very
positive."
Saunders added: "The situation really came about because we had such a good
performance and win in Slovakia, we all felt that we were really going in
the right direction. "Then we had that bad defeat in Cyprus, which is why
the manager was so disappointed. It knocked the stuffing out of us, we had
made a few steps forward and then we played like we did. "Some of his
comments were out of sheer disappointment. He is focused on what we are
trying to do, we may be 18 months away from achieving something. "But maybe
the defeat in Cyprus showed us that we are not quite ready yet too take on
the world. With some more experience, and the World Cup qualifiers not
starting until next season, we may be in a better shape by then."
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West Ham's Gabbidon suffering witch-hunt
tribalfootball.com - November 16, 2007
West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon has been the victim of a Welsh
"witch-hunt", says Wales assistant manager Dean Saunders.
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Green again overlooked by England - Harlow Citizen
By Guardian-series
ROBERT Green has again been overlooked by England boss Steve McLaren.
England face a friendly in Austria tomorrow and the final Euro 2008
qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday. But Green, who has been in sparkling
form for the Hammers this season, has missed out in favour of Paul Robinson,
David James and Scott Carson. Other Hammers in Euro 2008 action during the
international break include Danny Gabbidon and James Collins, who have been
called up by Wales to face Republic of Ireland and Germany, although Wales
captain Craig Bellamy misses out through injury.
Young Hammers midfielder Jack Collison has also been called up to the Wales
U21 Squad for the clashes with Bosnia-Herzegovina and France. Freddie
Ljungberg, who only returned to the Hammers squad last week from injury, is
in the Sweden squad to face Spain and Latvia, while Christian Dailly, on
loan at Championship side Southampton, has been called up to the Scotland
squad for their all-important decider with Italy tomorrow. Boss Alan
Curbishley, who has lost a number of players to injury when they've gone off
to play for their country this season, is looking to use the break to the
Hammers advantage. He said: "Hopefully we can use the break to get one or
two players back for when we play our next game. I just hope the players who
go off on international duty come back ok."
In other internationals, Hammers' skipper Lucas Neill should feature for
Australia in a friendly against Nigeria at Fulham's Craven Cottage, John
Pantsil has been called up by Ghana for a four-team tournament involving
Togo, Benin and United Arab Emirates, and Henri Camara is in the Senagal
squad to face Morocco and Mali in France. Meanwhile, Nobby Solano faces a
tough week of travelling - the winger is back in the Peru squad to take on
mighty Brazil in Lima tomorrow, and Ecuador away three days later.
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West Ham confident over £7M deal for Derby's Barnes
tribalfootball.com - November 16, 2007
West Ham United are confident of a deal for Derby County winger Giles
Barnes. The Times says the Hammers expect to sign Barnes, 19, in January,
five months after a deal worth up to £7 million fell through because of
concerns about the condition of his ankle.
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