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Everton travel to the Midlands looking to bounce back from their defeat at Tottenham on Wednesday by beating mid-table Aston Villa.

Alex McLeish’s side stuttered over the festive period winning only two of their six games and sliding to 13th in their table. Whilst their victory over Bolton in early December was expected their success against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge turned a lot of heads in the top flight with some seeing it as a potential turning point for Villa. However they followed up that performance with defeat against Swansea at Villa Park to maintain their inconsistent form. Their impressive win West London highlighted the capabilities of the Villa squad with Stephen Ireland, in particular, proving to be a shining light over Christmas. The midfielder has endured a tough time since his move from Manchester City at the end of last season but his attitude and performance in recent weeks have been encouraging. Villa will need him to be at his playmaking best as they continue to dream of a European finish to the season. For that to happen they’ll need to improve a home record that has seen them lose five times on their own turf.

David Moyes injury hit squad will be hoping to inflict more misery on Villa supporters by taking a much needed three points back home to Merseyside. Injuries have decimated Everton over the last couple of weeks with key players Phil Jagielka and Leon Osman missing from the trip to the Midlands. Defeat at Tottenham on Wednesday night left the Toffees just outside the top half although their ambitions of European football look all but over after losing in North London. Their inability to covert chances into goals cost them once again at White Hart Lane although supporters will be encouraged by the performance of Landon Donovan. The on-loan American was arguably their star performer against Spurs and will be desperate to open his Everton account soon rather than later with his temporary stay at Goodison Park running out in March. He’ll be determined to ensure the Toffees don’t incur a fourth consecutive defeat at Villa Park as their European dream continues to fade away.

Aston Villa 13th : 23 points

Last six: L W D L L W

Team news: James Collins and Carlos Cuellar are both out along with Emile Heskey but Shay Given could return in goal after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Key Player: Gabriel Agbonlahor

Whilst Villa have struggled to be consistent this season Agbonlahor has managed to maintain his level of performance to become a key player for Alex McLeish’s men. His pace down the flanks could prove useful against an injury hit Everton side.

Everton 11th : 24 points

Last six:  L L L W D W D

Team news:

Key Player: Sylvain Distin

With captain Phil Jagielka likely to miss this game defensive responsibitlies will shift over to Distin. The Frenchman has been exception for Everton this season and will need to be at his best to keep out Villa’s attacking threats.

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PREDICTION

Villa have won only three times at home this season but will be spoiling after defeat to Swansea in their last outing. Everton continue to flirt with the top half but their injury hit squad may find two games in the space of 72 hours too much to handle.

Score: 2-1

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A bullet has been posted to Celtic manager Neil Lennon, just one day after he was attacked on the touchline during a game against Hearts.Police officers were called to Celtic Park on Thursday, and a spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police confirmed they were investigating the incident.

On Wednesday night, police arrested the man who charged at Lennon and attempted to wrestle him to the ground during his side’s 3-0 away win over Hearts.

Edinburgh man John Wilson appeared in court on Thursday charged with breach of the peace aggravated by religious prejudice, and assault aggravated by religious prejudice, but he did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody.

Two men, aged 41 and 43, are also being held by police over a separate incident in which parcel bombs were sent to Lennon, lawyer Paul McBride and politician Trish Godman.

The Celtic manager received death threats while playing for Northern Ireland, and was hospitalised after being badly beaten in Glasgow on a night out in September 2008.

Celtic, a predominantly Catholic club, have been locked in a tense battle for the Scottish Premier League title with their Glasgow rivals Rangers, who draw most of their support from the Protestant community.

The rivalry this season has been especially bitter, coming to a head on March 2 when Celtic played host to Rangers in a fiery Scottish Cup clash.

Rangers had three players – Steven Whittaker, Madjid Bougherra and El Hadji Diouf – sent off and the match was punctuated by a heated touchline exchange between Lennon and Rangers assistant boss Ally McCoist after the final whistle.

Manchester United winger Nani believes he is currently playing the best football of his career.

The Portugal international has scored two goals and provided six assists for the Red Devils this season.

The 23-year-old is finally beginning to emerge from the Old Trafford shadow cast by compatriot and former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nani, who joined United in a £16million deal from Sporting Lisbon in July 2007, scored a superb solo goal in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers and is delighted with his current form.

"I feel more confident now than at any stage in my career," he declared.

"I know I am at a very good moment in my career and my performances have been at a high level.

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"I am doing well and am playing at an important level for my team.

"That is making me confident in every game and I hope to continue that."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Norwich have signed Leeds United captain Jonny Howson for an undisclosed fee, the club have announced.

The midfielder moves to Carrow Road on a three-and-a-half year contract, and will wear the No.24 shirt for The Canaries.

Howson, an England under-21 international, was the Elland Road outfit’s youngest skipper since Billy Bremner, but his contract with The Championship club was expiring, forcing Simon Grayson to sell.

New boss Paul Lambert is delighted to have brought the prospect to his side, and feels Howson can add something to the Norwich midfield.

“I think he has been brilliant for Leeds – how he has played but also being their captain brings its own demands. It’s a fantastic club, Leeds,” the Scottish coach told the club’s official website.

“I think he can add goals to our midfield, which I think we need, and he can do that. He’ll get better as a player the higher the level he goes up. If he does that and everything goes well, he’ll be a great player for us.”

Howson is over the moon with his move, and is glad to be given the opportunity to play in the English top flight.

“It’s been no secret that my ambition is to play in the Premiership and that’s why we never got round to sorting the contract because we don’t know where Leeds United are going to be.

“I’m going to a great club, they are flying high, doing ever so well, and they have a great team that we’ve been close to here over the past couple of seasons, and they have a great manager as well,” he concluded.

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Howson is currently out of action with a knee injury, but is expected to be available for his new team in coming weeks.

By Gareth McKnight

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Wayne Rooney recently made arguably the most obvious statement since Kevin Keegan informed the footballing world that players who were 30 at the current world cup would be 34 at the next one- if they weren’t careful. Wazza noted that it’s only a matter of time before Ryan Giggs is made Sir Ryan of Salford.

Rooney told The Sun:

“It won’t be long before we call him Sir Ryan. For me he’s a genius, incredible. What he has done at United, what he does for the younger players is absolutely fantastic.”

The British media, or should that be the English media has been so wrapped up in when David Beckham is going to receive his knighthood that many of them have overlooked the man who more than any player in the modern game, deserves one.

I know there may be those among you who like Morrissey may think “what difference does it make?” but surely there’ s a strong case to be made that giving Giggs a knighthood before he hangs up his boots would be not only a great idea but more importantly well deserved.

Here’s ten reasons why Giggs should be on his knees with a sword on his shoulder sooner rather than later.

1. He’s won the lot- several times. With a staggering array of winners medals not to mention the freedom of the City of Salford, BBC Sport Personality of the Year, Young PFA Player of the Year, PFA Player of the Year, Order of the British Empire, numerous records broken and continuing to be broke every time he sets foot on a pitch, what accolade is there left to bestow upon the man who’s won everything? It’s only right that a man who has won every honour both for his team and individually should be awarded the one thing he hasn’t achieved yet.

2. He’s a shining example to younger players. Let me ask you this: how many times have we heard of Giggs, arguing over a contract, trying to get himself a better deal, diving about on the floor, getting involved in tabloid nonsense, being red-carded- at club level, making silly statements, bringing his club into disrepute? None? Thought so, The man is the best example of how any footballer should conduct themselves bar none. If you’re a youngster and you look up to a Wayne Rooney or even a Roy Keane, then that’s great but you could find an even better role model in Mr Giggs, absolutely faultless, in fact, canonizing rather than knighting him could well be more appropriate.

3. Charity work. It amazes me how little is made of the amount of work Giggs does for “charidee2 when compared with other so-called celebrities who seem to revel in the limelight of all their benevolent efforts. Giggs has done his bit as part of United’s charity work during his career but has also branched out to become an ambassador for UNICEF. Giggs visited Sierra Leone as part of his work with UNICEF which is where his father’s family originally come from. Giggs has also been a vociferous member of the ‘Show Racism The Red Card’ campaign, opening up his heart about the abuse he suffered as a mixed-race child in a white environment.

4. He’s Welsh and proud of it. Being Welsh shouldn’t qualify you for a knighthood, but Giggs deserves credit for being a shining example for his national side as well as his club one. Although he didn’t ‘choose’ Wales as some have claimed, he was born in Cardiff to Welsh parents so could only play for that country, he has never made an issue of it. One Reebok campaign simply stated : “I’m Welsh end of story.” It’s a crying shame for England that he is as the left side of our national side’s midfield has NEVER had a decent long-term player there during Giggs long career.

5. If he was an Olympian he’d have been knighted by now. The likes of Chris Hoy, Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent have all been given knighthoods so why not Giggs? If he was an Olympic athlete, he’d have taken part in the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2010 games. Would he have been knighted by now? Of course he would have. Yet just because he’s a ridiculously successful footballer that somehow doesn’t count. Well it should, athletics shouldn’t have a monopoly over honours, football’s the people’s game and no one embodies it better than Giggs.

6. If the Queen’s waiting for him to retire- it could be a long wait. Her Majesty may well be thinking, she’ll give Giggs the honour his talent and attitude deserves when he hangs up his boots. The problem is, Giggs isn’t human, he’s a cyborg created by United supporting scientists that will simply keep going for many years to come. While that last statement may be a bit of a porkie it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Giggs could actually be playing into his forties. Sounds ridiculous, well we’ll see about that in a few years.

Any more reasons Ryan should become Sir Will Tear Your Apart Again? Feel free to suggest them below:

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Read more of Justin’s articles at the excellent Red Flag Flying High

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As Spurs exited Bern in the wake of a 3-2 defeat to BSC Young Boys Michael Dawson may have regretted relaying his dream of marking Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to a plethora of media outlets – it is this sort of naïve complacency that could trip Tottenham up.

Perhaps Dawson should have instead being dreaming of marking Young Boy’s Henri Benvenue who outstripped him to score the Swiss side’s second – because the grim reality is that if Tottenham get carried away by the mouth-watering prospect of Champions League glamour ties, there won’t be any.

Dawson said: “There are so many games you watch and to play against the best players in the world – Messi and players like that – would be fantastic and a great test.”

But what Tottenham and Dawson in particular must remember is that the journey to the group stage is not paved with gold due to their admirable domestic exploits and if last night was anything to go by, looking ahead to the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid is dangerous.

Due to the global popularity of the English Premier League, the desire to beat English teams in Europe is intensified and this desire was laid down for all to see at the Stade de Suisse yesterday evening. Young Boy’s defender Christoph Spycher told of how “For every player in Switzerland, it’s really a great challenge to play against an English team” and they certainly embraced it.

Spurs at least managed to pull it back to 3-2 ahead of the return leg at White Hart Lane next week but if they continue to turn their attentions elsewhere, then the Swiss minnows may just turn them over.

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It may well be wise for Dawson to keep his thoughts to himself and take the Champions League in his stride – like his manager Harry Redknapp who says he “never thinks about it” referring of course to the long journey which has finally earned him a place amongst the elite.

After all, unless Spurs record a victory in a week’s time, the hard work throughout last season may be undone by their own ignorance, Dawson’s dream may remain just that.

Rangers midfielder Steven Davis is set for a return to Aston Villa in January as Alex McLeish looks to strengthen his options going into the second half of the season, according to The Sun.

The Northern Irish international has been a key player for club and country over the past four years but McLeish believes the Glasgow club could accept a cut price £2million bid as their financial situation worsens.

Davis joined Villa as a 16-year-old and enjoyed five years at the club before moving to Fulham for £4million in 2007, but left just 22-appearences later. The 26-year-olds boyhood club, Rangers, then took the midfielder for £3million and he has gone on to make over 150 appearances for the Ibrox club.

McLeish is desperate to strengthen his underachieving Villa side that have won just four games from 15 this season since his arrival in the summer from arch-rivals Birmingham City. The Midlands club have failed to replace the outgoing Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Nigel Reo-Coker from the summer and Davis would be the perfect addition to the lacklustre Villains.

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Fringe players such as Stiliyan Petrov, Carlos Cuellar and Stephen Ireland could be on their way in January as the new Villa boss looks to reshuffle his pack to win over the disapproving Villa fans.

Peter Crouch went some way to making amends for his Champions League dismissal with a brace in Tottenham’s 3-2 win over Stoke on Saturday.Crouch was the villain for Tottenham against Real Madrid on Tuesday, with his early sending off playing a major part in his side crashing to a 4-0 defeat at the Bernabeu in the Champions League quarter final.

But he was the hero at White Hart Lane as his brace ensured Tottenham secured all three points and helped the north London club record their first victory in the English Premier League since February 12.

Harry Redknapp’s side had gone four games without a win, but they are determined to keep alive their chances of finishing in the top four and are now just three points behind Manchester City.

Stoke gave everything but this latest defeat means they are still only six points clear of the bottom three and will need a couple more victories to cement their top-flight status.

In a thrilling first half, it was Tottenham who opened the scoring on 11 minutes.

Rafael Van der Vaart played a short pass to Roman Pavlyuchenko, whose cross picked out strike partner Crouch. The England man made no mistake to nod the ball past Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal.

Pavlyuchenko turned provider once again on 18 minutes when he fed a short ball to Luka Modric, who raced past Robert Huth into the box and fired the ball under Begovic to make it a dream start for the home side.

Stoke refused to lie down and Matthew Etherington scored a superb individual goal on 27 minutes to help his side get back into the game.

The former Tottenham winger raced from his own half past Michael Dawson and then took the ball around Tom Huddlestone in the penalty area before striking the ball through the legs of Heurelho Gomes to give Stoke a lifeline.

But Crouch restored Tottenham’s two-goal lead when he added his second of the game on 34 minutes.

The Tottenham striker rose above Ryan Shawcross to meet a cross from Huddlestone and directed a powerful header into the corner of the net.

Another cracking effort helped Stoke get back into the game on 41 minutes.

Bale lost the ball and Kenwyne Jones fired an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area which sailed into the roof of the net past Gomes.

Stoke were desperately unlucky not to grab an equaliser on 53 minutes.

Jones weaved his way into the box and crossed in for Jon Walters to shoot at Gomes, with the ball deflected onto the post.

Jones was causing all kinds of problems for the Tottenham defence and he came close to scoring once more on 57 minutes when he connected with a cross from Jermaine Pennant and saw his header fall inches past the post.

Tottenham had the ball in the Stoke net again on 67 minutes but the effort was ruled out after Younes Kaboul was adjudged to have fouled Begovic when he jumped for the ball.

Gomes came to Tottenham’s rescue on 87 minutes when he made a stunning save to deny Jones’ 25-yard effort, but the home side held on to record a crucial win.

One name which has been strangely absent from this summer’s transfer gossip columns is that of Ilan Araujo Dall’Igna. The Brazilian striker is currently a free agent having been released by West Ham United in June. The former Saint-Etienne player made a telling impact during his time in east London, scoring crucial goals in their relegation run-in. He told Sky Sports, “I did well in the Premier League and I was hoping to continue where I left off next season, but West Ham had other ideas, that’s football.” Hammers fans feared their loss would be a rival’s gain as Bolton Wanderers reportedly registered an interest in the striker. Ilan remains unattached as the Premier League season begins this Saturday. Many clubs could do worse business in this period of relative austerity than sign up this intelligent forward.

West Ham fans were justifiably concerned that Gianfranco Zola allegedly signed the forward in January without having seem him play. The player who has made three appearances for Brazil was available as a free transfer after Saint-Etienne terminated his contract. Having made his name with Atletico Paranaense in Brazil he moved to France in 2004 and amassed an impressive goal tally at Sochaux. He moved to AS Saint-Etienne in 2006 and initially adapted well, scoring goals including a beauty which earned him the Ligue 1 Goal of the Year award a year later. The player diminished in the club’s attacking plans and was allowed to leave prematurely in January. He did not have long to wait as he was offered a short term contract by West Ham and handed the number 9 shirt.

During his last full season at the French club the player starred in their successful fight against relegation and was accordingly well-accustomed to West Ham’s predicament. Ilan scored on his debut for the club in their away loss to Burnley. When a ball into the box was missed by Brian Jensen, the Brazilian slid in at the far post to direct it goal wards. It was a simple finish but one delivered by a player of cool temperament. A frustrating period followed for the striker who was customarily left on the bench or used in unfamiliar positions. His fantastic diving header at Goodison Park halted Everton’s seven match-winning streak and West Ham’s seven match-losing streak. Connecting with Julien Faubert’s enticing cross Ilan directed an unstoppably powerful header past Tim Howard to earn a 2-2 draw. It was a header deserving of comparisons with Yordan Letchkov’s winner against Germany at the 1994 World Cup.

This morale boosting contribution was followed by netting the only goal of a scrappy, attritional home game against Sunderland. It was a striker’s finish as he instinctively flicked Carlton Cole’s nod down into the net. Ilan scored once more for West Ham in their decisive home tie against Wigan. Bereft of delivery, Ilan dropped deep to receive the ball and spread the play before making surging, astute runs into the box. This approach paid dividends as Ilan managed to level the scores in the first half. Despite showing an impressive knack of finding space in the box and finishing clinically Ilan remains a free agent.

Why are Premier League sides searching for value in the transfer market ignoring this natural finisher? His absence from transfer proceedings may be due to comments he gave to a Brazilian newspaper while at West Ham. He claimed Zola had, “lost control of the team” and especially, “to players who speak Italian.” Few clubs would welcome the emergence of such unwanted headlines but Ilan steadfastly argued that his comments made months earlier were incorrectly translated. The player was contrite and the fans forgave their latest South American star to guide them to safety. Premier League clubs wishing to strengthen and diversify their attacking options may wish to consider Ilan before the transfer window closes.

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With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery

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Chelsea eased the pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas after inflicting Newcastle’s first home defeat of the season with a comfortable 3-0 win at St James’ Park.

Goals from Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge saw off a spirited display from the Magpies who will feel the visitors should have had a man sent off after David Luiz hauled down Demba Ba in the early stages. The Brazilian was shown a yellow card by referee Mike Dean and it proved to be a game changer as the home side struggled to find a way through the Blues back four. Alan Pardew’s men did hit the woodwork three times but also had keeper Tim Krul to thank for a series of impressive saves including Frank Lampards first half penalty. The win was only Chelsea’s fourth in 10 games and saw them leapfrog Newcastle into the Premier League top four to ease the pressure on Villas-Boas’ shoulders. It could have been so different had Luiz been shown a red after bringing down Ba just outside the area as the Senegal striker made tracks for goal. Despite being the last man referee Dean opted to brandish a yellow card much to the displeasure of Pardew and the Geordie public.

From that moment on Chelsea took control and should have been four up by half time had Daniel Sturridge not wasted a host of chances after catching left back Ryan Taylor out of position on more than one occasion with Krul denying him with a series of smart stops. The Dutch goalkeeper would really earn his stripes on 13 minutes diving low to his left to save Frank Lampards penalty after Yohan Cabaye had tripped Sturridge in the area. Still the West London onslaught continued and it was only a matter of time before they took the lead with Drogba meeting Juan Mata’s cross to power the ball past Krul. On the balance of play it was well deserved although Newcastle should have equalised just moments later with Ba seeing his header from Danny Guthrie’s cross hit the post with Petr Cech beaten. They took that momentum into the second period with Shola Ameobi coming on for the ineffective Hatem Ben Arfa and it proved to be an inspired change as they went in search of an equaliser.

Ameobi did well to win a corner that saw Ba meet Cabayes whipped corner with a powerful header only to see the ball bounce agonisingly off the bar before being hacked away as Chelsea went on the counter. Sturridge’s pace saw him stride up field catching the home defence napping before squaring for Ramires who was denied brilliantly by Krul from 10 yards. That halt the home side in their efforts to level the game and Ameobi almost produced a moment of divine brilliance picking the ball up 25-yards from goal before cracking a stunning left foot drive that smashed off the post. Brother Sammy Ameobi was then introduced as a substitute with 20 minutes left and the 19-year-old came within a whisker of restoring parity only to see his volley cleared off the line after Chelsea failed to clear a corner. Those missed chances would prove to be vital as the Blues killed the game off in the last five minutes. Firstly substitute Kalou cooly slotted past Krul after being teed up by Fernando Torres before Sturridge got the goal he deserves cutting in from the right and finishing accurately from the edge of the area.

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