Fagan is charged

Derby County striker Craig Fagan has been charged with violent conduct.

Fagan was charged in relation to an incident during the game against Liverpool on Saturday. He appeared to stamp on Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa as the pair tangled on the touchline during the 6-0 victory for the Reds, although the incident was not seen at the time by referee Alan Wiley.

The former Hull City player has until 6pm on Wednesday to respond to admit or deny the charge, which is a punishable by a three-match ban if he is found guilty.

Meanwhile, Rams defender Jay McEveley is in line for a competitive international debut this weekend. The 22-year-old already has one cap under his belt with an outing in Scotland’s 1-0 win over South Africa last month.

Wigan secure Olembe

Wigan Athletic have signed left-back Salomon Olembe, subject to the player being given international clearance.

 The 26-year-old Cameroon international was a free agent having left French club Marseille in June and has signed a one-year deal with Chris Hutchings’ side. Olembe has won 60 caps for Cameroon, including playing for the Indomitable Lions at the World Cup, and had a spell with Leeds United in the 2003/04 season.

Latics manager Chris Hutchings told the club’s official website: “Salomon is an experienced campaigner, who’s played at the highest level. We’ve had our eye on him for quite a while, and like all our signings, we have done a lot of research on him.

Helguson blow for Bolton

Bolton Wanderers striker Heidar Helguson is set to be sidelined for up to seven weeks after ankle surgery.

The Iceland international has started one match for Bolton and been a substitute in two more since joining the club from Fulham this summer, scoring in the 2-1 defeat against his old team last month.

Bolton right-back Nicky Hunt is also set for a spell on the sidelines after spraining his ankle during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Everton. Trotters’ utility player Ricardo Gardner is now back in full training while Joey O’Brien played 90 minutes for the reserves on Monday.

Bolton have lost four of their opening five Barclays Premier League matches and currently sit second from bottom of the table on three points.

source:premierleague

Spurs clarify King situation

Tottenham Hotspur have stressed that Ledley King is “making good progress” in his comeback from knee surgery.

 The Spurs skipper, 26, went under the knife in June after aggravating the injury on international duty and there were suggestions he may return later than expected.

“Ledley has suffered no setback, he has no pain or swelling in his knee and is building up his fitness,” Wayne Diesel, Head of Medical Services at the Club, told Spurs’ official website. “I am satisfied that he is on course with his rehab and is making steady progress. We have always said that we would not look to rush him back as that would be counter-productive, so this will not be dictated by timeframes but by goal-specific stages in his rehab.”

The player added: “Far from suffering any setback, I am in fact really pleased with the way things are going. No player enjoys watching from the sidelines and my sole focus is on getting fit and back in the squad.”

Tottenham have earned just four points from their opening five Barclays Premier League games.

source:premierleague

Giggs’ double vision

Ryan Giggs has targeted two more titles with Manchester United before retiring.

The Welshman’s nine Premier League winners medals is a record, but he says he wants to at least reach double figures.

“It would be nice to get to 10, but it would be nicer to get to 11,” he told the club’s official website. “I don’t want to be greedy, but that is my shirt number, so that is what I am aiming for.

“The medals are not something I think about too much because I want to win more, but it is something that I will be immensely proud of when I finish.”

Competition in the United midfield will be fierce this season after the arrivals of Owen Hargreaves, Anderson and Nani. Giggs admits he is willing to be versatile.

Patience pays off for Wright-Phillips

Shaun Wright-Phillips says his move to Chelsea has made him stronger on and off the pitch.

The England international has often struggled for a starting place since arriving from Manchester City two summers ago but has now earned a run in the first-team thanks to some impressive displays.

“I have never, ever regretted moving to Chelsea,” he said. “It was a move forward. It has improved me mentally. I’ve learnt to be a lot more patient with things on and off the pitch.”

“I was always confident; working hard. I knew it was only a matter of time before things would start going well. I’m just happy to be playing well for my club and playing well for the people that had my back the whole time, like the fans and the manager.”

Wright-Phillips’ good form has secured him a recall to the England squad. He added: “It’s great to be back in the England squad. If I continue to play well, I don’t see why I can’t stay in there.”

source:premierleague

Bruce delight at Oubina capture

Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce believes Borja Oubina is a “quality” signing.

 The Blues moved to sign the player on loan from Spanish side Celta Vigo with minutes to spare before the transfer deadline after it had looked as though he would join Portuguese giants Benfica. The deal may be made permanent at the end of the season.

“Very early in the week, it looked odds-on as if he was going to Benfica,” said Bruce. “That didn’t happen, and we jumped on the back of it.”

The Blues moved for Oubina after a deal to sign French midfielder Peter Luccin from Atletico Madrid fell through.

Saha vows to give 100 per cent

Louis Saha would rather risk new injury heartache than play “without full commitment” for Manchester United.

 The Manchester United striker has been plagued by fitness problems throughout his time at Old Trafford, but launched his latest comeback in the best manner possible by nodding home the all-important winner to spoil Roy Keane’s return to the Theatre of Dreams.

Saha’s introduction as a half-time substitute transformed a game which seemed to be slipping away from a United side which lacked a cutting edge in attack despite the varied talents of Carlos Tevez, Anderson and Nani.

The Frenchman’s pivotal contribution emphasised why Sir Alex Ferguson has become so frustrated by his continued absence during an eight-month period which has seen Saha suffer hamstring and knee problems that have restricted the 28-year-old to just seven league appearances in 2007 prior to his latest outing. At one point towards the end of last season, it appeared Saha would be sold as Ferguson looked to reshape his squad. Now the United boss is glad Saha’s patchy fitness record did not allow it to happen, although doubts persist over the chances of him making a long-term contribution.

N’Zogbia signs new deal

Newcastle United midfielder Charles N’Zogbia has committed his future to the club by signing a new five-year contract.

 The 21-year-old Frenchman, who was called into the France Under-21 squad earlier this week, has ended speculation over his future on Tyneside by putting pen to paper on a deal which will keep him at St James’ Park until 2012.

N’Zogbia lost his way last season under Glenn Roeder after being repeatedly linked with a move to Arsenal, and a knee injury meant he played only a peripheral role as the campaign drew to a close.

Curbishley: Bellamy better than I thought

West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley believes Craig Bellamy can become an Upton Park legend.

Curbishley has admitted he initially underestimated the talents of his £7.5million summer signing from Liverpool. Bellamy now has three goals to his name after netting the first in the Hammers’ comprehensive dismantling of Reading at the Madejski Stadium, where they had been thrashed 6-0 last season.

The Welshman had been a doubt before the game with a groin problem but was still too quick for the home defence when he opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Curbishley revealed that Bellamy had needed plenty of persuading to come to a club that had almost been relegated last term, but insisted the forward had already exceeded expectations.