Fears of a serious injury to John Pantsil were eased on Monday and he has
returned to training with Ghana
21.01.2008
Positive news has been reported on West Ham United defender John Pantsil
after he returned to training with Ghana.
The right-back was carried off on a stretcher following the 2-1 win against
Guinea on Sunday night that saw the 2008 African Cup of Nations hosts get
their campaign off to a winning start. Pantsil had suffered a head injury
during the game but continued until the final whistle before complaining of
dizziness and being taken to hospital. Ghana team doctor Martin Engmann
said: "He is fine and fully conscious."
Dr Engmann added the 26-year-old would remain under "observation and
monitoring" but national-team coach Claude Le Roy confirmed Pantsil was well
enough to return to training. However, it remains to be seen whether he will
be fit to play in Ghana's second Group A fixture against Namibia on
Thursday. Club-mate Henri Camara will begin his campaign with Senegal on
Wednesday when they play their first Group D fixture against Tunisia.
2008 African Cup of Nations (selected fixtures)
Wednesday 23 January
Group D - Tunisia v Senegal (5pm)
Thursday 24 January
Group A - Ghana v Namibia (7.30pm)
Sunday 27 January
Group D - Senegal v Angola (5pm)
Monday 28 January
Group A - Ghana v Morocco (5pm)
Wednesday 31 January
Group D - Senegal v South Africa (5pm)
The quarter-finals will be played on 3/4 February although Ghana and Senegal
cannot meet until the semi-finals at the earliest. These will be held on 7
February, with the final set for 10 February.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool date change reminder - WHUFC
The ticket office has a small number of seats available following the switch
to Wednesday 30 January
21.01.2008
West Ham United would like to remind supporters that the Barclays Premier
League home fixture against Liverpool will now take place on Wednesday 30
January.
The match, which will get under way at 7.45pm, was originally scheduled to
be played 24 hours earlier on Tuesday 29 January. All tickets for the
original date remain valid. Because of the date change, a small number of
seats have become available for the previously sold-out fixture. These are
available now to club members only from the ticket office - either in person
or by phoning 0870 112 2700 and selecting option 3.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Davenport suffers neck fracture - BBC
Calum Davenport is in hospital after fracturing a bone in his neck during
his first match on loan at Watford. The West Ham defender was stretchered
off after team-mate Darius Henderson landed awkwardly on him during the 1-1
draw at home to Charlton Athletic. The injury has triggered an immediate end
to the 25-year-old's loan spell and he will return to the Hammers. "Calum
heard a crack in his neck and he lost the sensation in his fingers," said
Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd. "When it is a neck injury you have to get
him off the pitch straight away and we hope it is not too bad." Davenport is
set to remain in hospital under observation for the next few days. The
Hornets, currently second in the Championship, are expected to move in the
transfer market to bring in a replacement. Davenport himself was signed as
cover for Danny Shittu, who is away with the Nigeria squad at the African
Nations Cup.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ljungberg targets top four - SSN
Midfielder feels Hammers are still in the running
Last updated: 21st January 2008
Freddie Ljungberg believes West Ham can still challenge for the final UEFA
Champions League spot. The Hammers are nine points behind Everton after
being held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester City at the weekend. Liverpool, Aston
Villa, Portsmouth, Blackburn and Man City are all ahead of West Ham in the
race for fourth place. However, Ljungberg is staying confident as West Ham
have a game in hand on most of their rivals and players are beginning to
return from injury. "I looked at the Premier League table before the weekend
and we were only seven points off fourth place with a game in hand over
every club above us apart from Liverpool, and we play them in our next home
game," said the midfielder. "I felt we were capable of closing the gap and
getting into the fight for fourth place, and I still think that is possible
even though it has opened up to nine points now.
"A couple of wins can really get you moving in the right direction, and it
is very tight behind the top three. "With so many injured players preparing
to come back in the second half of the season, we have to target a place in
Europe." Ljungberg feels it is too early to dismiss West Ham as he has
learned from experience that things can change very quickly. "To do it
(qualify for Europe) we will have to catch at least one of the clubs who
were in joint fourth on Saturday morning," he urged. "So if you close the
gap on one of them, why not all of them? "My time in football has taught me
that you have to set your sights high if you are going to achieve anything
worthwhile."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lyall family's gratitude to Hammers - east anglian news
22 January 2008 | 07:00
DEREK DAVIS
A host of Ipswich Town and West Ham United greats were in attendance at
Upton Park to mark the unveiling of a special plaque in John Lyall's honour.
Former Ipswich players Charlie Woods, Chris Kiwomya, and Geraint Williams
attended the ceremony that saw Lyall, who died suddenly in April 2006 at his
Tattingstone home, commemorated with a plaque outside the Dr Martens stand.
Lyall's son Murray said: "It was very emotional to see dad's name alongside
legends such as Bobby Moore and his managing mentor Ron Greenwood. "The
Lyall family would like to thank the Heritage Foundation and the staff at
West Ham for a magnificent day." Lyall's grandsons Sam, 10, and Charlie, 12,
unveiled the plaque as Scottish bagpipers played the famous West Ham anthem
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles. West Ham legends Sir Trevor Brooking and Terry
Venables addressed a 300 strong audience during a luncheon at the club which
also included, among others, Billy Bonds, Martin Peters, Tony Gale, Tony
Cottee and Alan Devonshire. With Sunday's event organised by the arts
charity the Heritage Foundation, celebrities including the former Bee Gee
Robin Gibb and Rick Wakeman were also in attendance. Cottee and Gale then
led a charity auction, the proceeds of which will go to Lyall's
grandchildren's football team the Lawford Lads. Lyall is fondly remembered
in Suffolk for leading Ipswich Town to the old Division Two title in 1992,
an achievement that booked Town their place in the inaugural Premiership
season. However, it is his previous 15 years in charge at West Ham that
Lyall is best remembered after he led the East London club to two FA Cup
titles ('75 and '80) and their highest ever league position of third place.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
