Hughes plays down Newcastle link

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has distanced himself from the vacant Newcastle role, insisting he and the club have had no contact about the job. Hughes told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I have not spoken to them, it’s speculation.”

Meanwhile, speculation linking Harry Redknapp with the job at St James’ Park heightened when his planned Friday press conference was cancelled.

The Portsmouth boss, who has previously played down links with the Magpies, is the favourite to succeed Sam Allardyce.

Allardyce was sacked on Wednesday after just eight months at St James’ Park.

And Newcastle are expected to make an official approach to Portsmouth to talk to Redknapp about taking over the position on Friday.

The 60-year-old recently signed a new four-year contract at Fratton Park and told The News in Portsmouth on Thursday: “To say a deal has already been done is absolute rubbish.

Santa Cruz suffers injury setback

Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz has pulled out of Paraguay’s World Cup qualifiers because of tendonitis in his knee. Reports suggested the 26-year-old striker, who will miss Paraguay’s matches against Peru and Uruguay, could face up to six weeks on the sidelines.

However, Rovers chairman John Williams said: “We do not know at the moment how long he will be out for.”

Santa Cruz said he has had injections for a “few weeks” and a scan on Monday showed the extent of the problem.

Santa Cruz said: “I’ve reached a point where I had to decide if I should continue but run the risk of having to stop for two or three months, or if I should stop now and see if the injury gets better.”

Mourinho wants official’s apology

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says he wants referee’s assistant Peter Kirkup to apologise after the official disallowed a strike by Salomon Kalou. TV replays suggested the Ivorian was behind the line of the ball when he sidefooted home in the second half of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Blackburn.

“I can’t understand it. If the linesman wants to explain, then maybe it would be a good thing,” said Mourinho.

“I told the linesman I would be waiting for his phone call to apologise.”

Referee Howard Webb disallowed the goal - a decision which sparked anger on the touchline with Mourinho berating the fourth official Peter Walton and urging him to look at TV replays.

Mourinho added: “We scored a great goal. Only the linesman can tell us why he disallowed the goal.”

Bentley defends England pull-out

Blackburn forward David Bentley says he does not regret withdrawing from England’s Under-21 side even though it has cost him a senior call-up.

Bentley withdrew from the squad for the summer’s Uefa U21 championships citing fatigue and as a result will not be in the squad to face Germany on 22 August.

“I knew there would be consequences to my decision in the summer,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

“I made it to hopefully further my England career rather than shorten it.”

Bentley was informed of the decision by coach Steve McClaren ahead of the squad announcement, and the player said he admired the way McClaren had handled the situation.