Rooney wants Heskey as England partner
England striker Wayne Rooney has named the man he would prefer to lead the line with against Kazakhstan on Saturday (October 11th).
The Liverpudlian believes he would will link up well with Emile Heskey at Wembley, after the two both played in the recent wins over Andorra and Croatia.
Heskey’s goal record for England is less than flattering, standing at only five from 48 games, but the Wigan Athletic frontman also linked up well with Michael Owen when the ex-Liverpool pair were the preferred choice for the national team.
According to the Times of South Africa, Rooney said: “I played with Emile a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the last game and the second-half against Andorra. I am looking forward to doing it again.
“I like to play just off a front man. That is what I enjoy doing most. It is probably because I get on the ball more. I don’t like to be out of the game too long.”
Reports suggest that Theo Walcott, Rooney and Heskey will compose a front three ahead of midfielders Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry.
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England will be looking to build on the progress they made in their 4-1 win over Croatia in last month’s world cup qualifier when they take on Kazakhstan at Wembley on Saturday.
The convincing performance in Zagreb has put pressure on England to dispose of their lowly Eastern European opponents with ease, and there is every chance that a failure to score early in the game could lead to pressure being put on the English team by an expectant crowd.
“I love playing at Wembley,” England defender Rio Ferdinand was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. “But maybe the fans do get a bit agitated if we don’t score inside the first 20 minutes. If it is a real cauldron, like it is in Zagreb, that helps. No one enjoys facing 90,000.”
Despite the fact that the English team has won the balance of its games at Wembley since the stadium reopened, a series of uninspiring performances against lower ranked teams has seen the crowd turn on their team on several occasions.
“Fans react to how the players are playing,” midfielder Frank Lampard said of the Wembley crowd. “With the Croatia game we showed a work ethic and a team ethic and a lot of people responded to it. We don’t want to get carried away with ourselves but when fans see that and hopefully see it at Wembley on Saturday, you get a different response out there.”
Captain Terry a major doubt for Kazak match
England are likely to be without John Terry for the World Cup 2010 qualifier against Kazakhstan on Saturday (October 11th).
A back niggle picked up in the Champions League game against CFR Cluj in Romania last week is still troubling the national side captain, who is likely to be covered in his role by Rio Ferdinand.
Terry’s replacement in the side to face a Kazak outfit which has scored four goals so far in qualifying could be one of Joleon Lescott, Wes Brown or Matthew Upson.
Theo Walcott looks set to retain his place on the right wing after a magnificent hat-trick in Zagreb against Croatia last time out.
Shaun Wright-Phillips looks set to be the man to fill-in for the injured Joe Cole on the left-hand side, according to reports from the training camp at Arsenal’s London Colney facility.
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Lamps and Gerrard lined-up for Kazakhstan gam
Fabio Capello is considering a return to the much-maligned central midfield pairing of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard for the World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan on Saturday (October 11th), new reports suggest.
According to the Daily Mail, Capello will play the two in a Thursday practice game with a view to fielding them for the Wembley fixture.
The news comes despite Gareth Barry’s impressive showing in the 4-1 win away to Croatia last month.
Meanwhile, fitness doubts have been cast over John Terry, Ashley Cole, Wes Brown and Stewart Downing, who all missed training today (Wednesday, October 7th).
Terry injured his back during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the weekend.
Kazakhstan, who will play in front of a full house at ‘The Home of Football’, look likely to field a younger, new-look side against hosts after long-serving goalkeeper David Loria and captain Nurbol Zhumaskaliev were dropped by caretaker manager Bernd Storck.
The central Asians are currently ranked 120th in the FIFA world rankings - 105 places below England in 15th.
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England may plan aerial assault on Kazaks
England may be planning an aerial assault on Kazakhstan after big men Peter Crouch and Emile Heskey were included in the squad for the World Cup qualifier on Saturday (October 11th).
Jermain Defoe and Wayne Rooney are the other strikers in Fabio Capello’s latest squad, with 40-goal Michael Owen omitted.
David Bentley and Jimmy Bullard also miss out, while Shaun Wright-Phillips has seen his promising form with Manchester City rewarded with a recall.
Joe Cole’s foot injury sustained for Chelsea against Aston Villa means that the midfielder is unavailable for selection, while goalkeeper Scott Carson - one of the scapegoats after England’s 3-2 defeat to Croatia in the Euro 2008 qualifiers - comes back for the injured Paul Robinson.
England are three points ahead of Kazakhstan with a game in hand - the Wembley visitors have already suffered Group Six defeats to the Ukraine and Croatia.
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Hull produced their second Premiership win in as many weeks this weekend, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 to send the London based club deeper into the Premier League doldrums.
Brazilian signing Geovanni was responsible for the game’s only goal, scoring off a brilliant free kick. The victory saw high-riding Hull climb to 3rd place in the Premier League log behind Liverpool and Chelsea, and 3 points ahead of Manchester United.
While Hull were celebrating the next act in their brilliant Premiership debut, Tottenham Hotspur were left in disarray, plunging to the bottom position in the Premier League log with 2 points from 7 games.
Spurs coach Juande Ramos appears unlikely to complete the season with Tottenham Hotspur after watching his club lose their third league home game of the season while Hull fans chanted “You’re getting sacked in the morning!” from the stands.
“The only way out is to work hard and trust in the players you are alongside because there are some quality players there”, Tottenham goalkeeper Ray Clemence told the Associated Press. “Quality will eventually come through. As long as you keep working hard it will turn for you.”
United face ‘The Guvnor’s’ in-form Blackburn
Manchester United are on their travels on Saturday (October 4th) to face a Blackburn Rovers side managed by one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s four Premier League proteges - Paul Ince.
Ince liked to be refered to as The Guvnor in his days as a combative Manchester United midfielder and will be hoping his team can boss United at Ewood Park.
Rovers have won their last three games in all competitions and United have only taken three points in six of their last league visits to the Lancashire club.
United striker Dimitar Berbatov broke his goalscoring duck for his new club in the 3-0 win away to Danish side Aalborg in mid-week – the Bulgarian will be hoping to find his shooting boots again this weekend.
He commented: It was very important for me to score and I’m glad to have done so. Our next game is on Saturday and I hope to score again then.
“My job is to score, or to create goals for other players, but the most important thing is the win for the team.”
In team news, Wayne Rooney is doubtful for United after picking up an ankle injury while Paul Robinson’s ongoing absence with a calf strain could give deputy Jason Brown his second game in a row in between the sticks for Blackburn. 
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Pompey set sail on maiden European voyage
Portsmouth will get their first taste of European football away from Fratton Park, as the south-coast kings take on Guimares in the Uefa Cup first round second leg tonight.
Harry Redknapp’s men will travel to Portugal armed with a two goal lead after Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe struck in a keenly-contested first game.
Pompey boss Redknapp refuses to underestimate his side’s opponents, who currently sit seventh in the Portuguese top flight.
“We’ve got a 2-0 lead but we saw enough of them in the first leg to know they are a good team so it will be a dangerous opposition for sure,” Redknapp told Portsmouth’s the News publication
He went on: “All round they are a good footballing team, they were adventurous at Fratton Park and caused us some problems as well.”
Brazilian striker Douglas returns from a ban for Guimares, while midfielder Richard Hughes could play for Pompey if Steven Davis is deemed unfit to start.
Guimares held Bolton Wanderers to a 1-1 draw in the Uefa Cup group stage the season before last.
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Benitez keeps Reds feet on ground before PSV
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is worried that his team could let their current league form lead to complacency ahead of the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven at Anfield tonight (Wednesday, October 1st).
The Reds are second on goal difference at the top of the Premier League table but Benitez believes his side must take one game at a time ahead of a visit from the reigning Dutch champions.
He commented: “When you are playing well and winning games, with everyone talking about how good you are, it is important to calm down and get people talking only about the next game.
“We have to make sure we do not listen to what is being said but just concentrate on the future.”
Midfield pair Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun are both back from injury, while Robbie Keane continues his search for a first goal in Liverpool colours.
The two teams last met in the 2006/2007 Champions League, when eventual finalists Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners on aggregate.
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Wenger will continue attacking philosophy aga
Arsene Wenger is insistent that Arsenal will continue to play their brand of elegant football ahead of the Champions League Group E fixture with Porto tonight (Tuesday, September 30th).
The Gunners were shocked last weekend when newly-promoted Hull City came from behind to record a 2-1 win.
But Wenger said his football philosophy remains the same whatever the contest.
He told the BBC: “The crowd are used to it and demands it now. It would be very difficult to change. We have created that [style] at the club and are rather proud of it.”
In team news, Arsenal welcome back French international winger Samir Nasri, who will be looking to add to the two goals he registered during his first month at the club.
Alex Song, Tomas Rosicky, Abou Diaby, Amaury Bischoff and Eduardo are still ruled out through injury.
Porto have included Argentine playmaker Luch Gonzalez – affectionately nicknamed ‘The Commander’ - in their squad after the midfielder was rested for the 2-1 win over Pacos Ferreira at the weekend.
The Portuguese giants reached the first knock-out stage of the Champions League proper last season, losing to Schalke, while Arsenal were beaten in the quarter-finals by English rivals Liverpool.
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