Hull to make shock Okocha signing

Hull City are set to unveil former Nigeria international Jay-Jay Okocha as their new signing on Tuesday, according to BBC Radio Humberside. The 34-year-old, who spent four years at Bolton Wanderers, was in the directors’ box watching the Championship side’s game at Blackpool.

The midfielder has been playing for Qatar SC since his release by Bolton last summer.

Okocha, who appeared in three World Cups, won over 70 caps with Nigeria.

Hull boss Phil Brown revealed he had been in contact with the veteran last month.

“Jay-Jay’s obviously in the transfer market at the moment – I’ve had a couple of conversations with him,” he said.

source:bbcsports

Ballack faces long injury lay-off

Michael Ballack has not been included in Chelsea’s squad list for the Champions League group stage as he continues his recovery from surgery. The 31-year-old Germany midfielder had an ankle operation in the summer and the club suggested he may not be back playing until the end of October.

“We hope Michael’s recovery is as quick as possible,” read a Chelsea statement.

“We hope he returns to full training soon so that he will then be available for the competition’s latter stages.”

The Blues submitted their list of players on Friday and could not guarantee that Ballack, who has not played since April, would feature in the majority of the Group B games.

Jose Mourinho’s team play Valencia, Schalke and Rosenborg twice before the group stages finishes on 11 December.

source:bbcsports

Yakubu out to form best partnership in league

Everton’s record signing Ayegbeni Yakubu believes his partnership with Andrew Johnson can become the best in the Premier League.

The £11.25million striker netted after just 11 minutes of his debut in Saturday’s win at Bolton, and Johnson was the creator.

Yakubu had not scored in 16 previous games for his former club Middlesbrough, but his impact had a crucial part to play in a 2-1 victory at the Reebok Stadium that sees Everton now holding down third place in the top flight.

Yakubu said: ‘I really think that my partnership with AJ will become one of the best in the division. We have only played one match and had a couple of training sessions together, but we have hit it off straight away.’

England call up defender Lescott

Everton defender Joleon Lescott has been called up to England’s squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel on Saturday and Russia four days later. England boss Steve McClaren made the decision after Portsmouth’s Sol Campbell pulled out through injury.

And Chelsea’s Frank Lampard is almost certain to miss England’s games, while McClaren called up Wigan striker Emile Heskey into his squad on Sunday.

McClaren remains confident Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard will be fit.

Birmingham-born Lescott has been key to Everton’s good start to the new Premier League season.

And McClaren told the FA website: “”Joleon has been looking very solid for Everton this season, and has also scored a couple of goals, too.

Mourinho predicts open title race

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes the Premier League title will be contested by more than the usual ‘big-four’ teams this season. After Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday, Mourinho said: “It will become more normal for the big teams to lose matches and points.

“The other teams outside the top four have spent lots of money and brought players in to bolster their teams.

“Villa are one example but you can find a lot of other examples.”

He added: “It will be more difficult to play against these teams because they are better.

“The league is open but it is the first weekend of September and we are only five matches into the season.”

And of the current top four places in the Premier League only Everton are a surprise inclusion – with Liverpool on top, Arsenal second and Chelsea in fourth.