Jonathan Woodgate was the only player missing from training today (most likely because of his injury history) as Fabio Capello’s English National Team started preparations ahead of their friendly clash with the Czech Republic on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester United’s Michael Carrick had to pull out of the squad after suffering an ankle injury against Newcastle United on Sunday, with Tottenham’s Jermain Jenas drafted in as his replacement.

image via Soccer_Heaven

Warning - Injury

Ummm… yeah.

With Arsenal facing FC Twente in a Champions League qualifier tonight, now is not the time to face an injury crisis. Failure to qualify for the group stages would cost the Gunners some £25m in potential income, and that would be no bueno. Cesc Fabregas is the latest Arsenal player to suffer an injury setback, leaving Arsene Wenger without NINE players for tonights qualifier.

(more…)

Isn’t there supposed to be a net behind the goal?

Saw V is set to drop on Halloween.

Cristiano Ronaldo is all over the papers out here in LA this morning after hitting up hotspot restaurant STK (and our girl Emily Olsen who hooked up Jay, Timmy, Steve, Ryan, Los and Myself the week of the Barbados match) last night before making the jaunt over to Hollywood club Villa.

Seems like every site in the world is running with Ronaldo snubbing Paris Hilton.

I’m just glad someone is seeing the potential that Cristiano has in America.  If there’s one person that could have the international effect that David Beckham has had in terms of global marketing, it’s Ronaldo.

image via DailyMail

DaMarcus Beasley will be out a minimum of 3 weeks after pulling up during Glasgow Rangers 1-nil win over SC Preussen Munster.

While the injury means Beasley will miss out on Ranger’s Champions League Qualifiers next week, there are no long term worries concerning the hamstring strain.

But Beasley isn’t the only injury concern for Walter Smith’s Rangers as club and country Captain Barry Ferguson is set for ankle surgery.  Ferguson, who has had ankle surgery to repair ligament damage back in April 2006, had to have injections throughout the 2007/08 campaign to keep his season on course.

The Captain will miss a minimum of 4 months, meaning he will miss the start of Scotland’s World Cup Qualifying Matches as well.

image via BBC

The first time Jorge Andrade injured his left patella tendon with Deportivo La Coruna in the 56th minute of their La Liga match against Barcelona and Samuel Eto’o, it cost him his place in the 2006 World Cup.

After recovering from the initial set back, the Portuguese Center Back signed with Italian giants Juventus (who were coming back from their Serie B sabbatical) after being courted by Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter, Barcelona and Valencia.

Only 4 matches into Juve’s Serie A campaign against Roma, the 50 cap winner suffered a fractured kneecap and the injury would keep him out of the entire 2007/08 season.

After being cleared by Turin doctors and medical staff to start pre-season training for the 2008/09 Serie A campaign and Champions League Qualifying 3rd Round, Andrade suffered a relapse of last years injury during training Thursday.

An official statement from Juventus said: “Jorge Andrade has suffered another serious injury to his left knee. The diagnosis is one of ‘kneecap fracture relapse’ – the same knee bone operated on twice last season. A new surgery will be necessary to repair the bone tissue and it will probably be carried out on Monday in Lisbon. The player is expected to remain out of action for a few months.”

One can only hope the 30 year old Andrade (one of the most highly underrated center backs) is able to regain his health and get back on the field where he belongs.

image via Football

Cristiano Ronaldo’s recovery timetable is now set at a minimum of 12 weeks after undergoing ankle surgery in Amsterdam last week.

The Footballer of the Year has had quite an interesting last couple of months with winning the Premiership Title, Champions League, 2008 Euro’s and the ongoing Real Madrid saga (which for the record he’s said the is no agreement with the La Liga Champions).

If you think about the amount of games Ronaldo has played since last summer (not just for club, but for country as well), it’s surprising that his body hasn’t broken down earlier. Yeah, he took his sweet time getting back to Manchester United about setting a date (three weeks after Portugal’s 3-2 loss to Germany) for his surgery, but the kid deserved to relax with family, friends and his woman after all the self-inflicted drama he put himself through when he decided not to acknowledge the Real Madrid link.

I still don’t agree though with the “Modern day slavery” description that he and Sepp Blatter are playing, especially after Blatter was against the idea of the Andy Webster ruling.

image via Images

Cristiano Ronaldo might be missing the start of the season after undergoing successful ankle surgery in Amsterdam.

“Initial indications are that the procedure was successful,” United said on its website.

“Cristiano will begin his convalescence under the direction of club medical staff and an estimation of his return to full fitness will be possible following a review by the specialist in one month.”